Approval of a scholarship denoting the memory of long-time Fort Dodge Community School District Special Education Director Melissa (Lis) Ristau was on the agenda of Monday’s school board meeting.

Brandon Hansel, the district’s executive director of financial services, told the board that the family had recently approached the district about such a possibility to honor the legacy of Ristau’s tenure. She passed away in the summer of 2021 due to injuries suffered when her recumbent bicycle was hit by a pickup truck.

Hansel informed the board that the scholarship will go to students who are pursuing a degree in education or special education.

“She was a wonderful director of a vital component of district education opportunities,” he said. “It’ll be a great way to keep her memory foremost in the minds of the individuals she worked so closely with.”

The board also approved:

• Funding of a summer school plan with the 95 Percent Group, which is part of the district’s core literacy instruction.

“We will use available funding of nearly $78,000 from a grant we received for summer reading curriculum,” Teri Boezinger, director of curriculum and instruction, said. “It will be focused on literacy and math when we begin in 2025, with options to not only use the materials in the summer but also the regular academic year.”

• The district’s fundraising 2023-24 fundraising report of $63,996.22.

• A list of 30 clubs and activities for the 2024-25 school year.