Voters will take to the polls Nov. 4 to consider a general obligation bond of up to $42.04 million. The FDCSD referendum, which addresses a slew of projects on the FDSH campus, would result in no increase to the debt service property tax rate if it passes.

“We have the opportunity to take care of nearly 20 years worth of projects with one bond,” FDCSD Superintendent Josh Porter said. “We’ve put a lot of legwork into coming up with a solution that makes the most sense financially, but also, checks all the boxes in a number of areas throughout the building for a cross section of our students and teachers.

“It’s an exciting time and an exciting proposal. Our intention here is to be completely transparent with what we’re doing and why, but also, fiscally prudent with these decisions. We’re hoping the entire community is motivated to rally around this, given it will impact our kids and culture in so many positive ways.”

District voters initially approved the general obligation bond to build Duncombe Elementary School and address a number of other projects in 2016, which resulted in a $2.17 per $1,000 of taxable value debt service levy.

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Voters will take to the polls Nov. 4 to consider a general obligation bond of up to $42.04 million for a number of projects at Fort Dodge Senior High. This image shows the potential for the Little Theater.

FDCSD Executive Director of Financial Services Brandon Hansel said the district has worked diligently to pay down the bonds early and free up the current bonding capacity.

As a result, the $42 million is available for the district to use as new bonds are issued with the same payment plan in place. This means no increase in taxes if the proposal is confirmed by voters.

“We looked at our 20-year plan for Senior High, and realized turning this into a package deal makes sense given we can do a full remodel while locking in construction costs today,” Hansel said. “If we pay as we go over the next two decades as an alternative by individualizing each project, the overall price tag obviously increases quite a bit.

“We want to be up front with the public about all of this, which is already the long-term facility plan. We’re only asking for what we need, and continue to be tremendously sensitive to tax rates. The level of trust we have established in the community is important to us, and we want that to continue with this proposal.”

The projects are slated to pinpoint a “broad range of interests,” Porter added. The list includes updating east and west classrooms, the pool and locker rooms, the HVAC system throughout the building and the public address and safety system, as well as significant upgrades to the fine arts areas and the career and technical education (CTE) labs and a new weight room facility.

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Voters will take to the polls Nov. 4 to consider a general obligation bond of up to $42.04 million for a number of projects at Fort Dodge Senior High. This image shows the potential for music room.

“This would modernize so many areas and enhance the overall experience of our students,” FDSH Principal Staci Laird said. “There are a number of things that people would notice immediately, but it would also address behind-the-scenes issues of equal importance.

“Fort Dodge Senior High is a beautiful building and we’re extremely proud of its history, but it’s also almost 70 years old. We’ve done a lot of work to date, but we still have a long way to go in terms of making sure it will last well into the future.”

Porter confirmed the district looked into the option of a new high school, but the cost would be in the $125 million range.

“Simply put, we don’t have the bonding capacity for that,” Porter said. “This is the right choice. We would hit so many different areas, and within two or three years, you’re looking at what is effectively a brand-new high school top to bottom. Yet it’s still Fort Dodge Senior High.

“We think this is the best of both worlds.”

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Voters will take to the polls Nov. 4 to consider a general obligation bond of up to $42.04 million for a number of projects at Fort Dodge Senior High. This image shows the potential for the high school pool.

The property tax rate levied by the Fort Dodge Community School District went down for the sixth year in a row last July. That rate reached $15.22 per $1,000 of taxable value for the current fiscal year.

ISG Inc., a multi-disciplinary design and engineering firm based in Mankato, Minnesota, evaluates district property and has provided conceptual designs for the proposed Fort Dodge Senior High projects.

Fort Dodge Senior High School first opened in 1958.

PROPOSED FORT DODGE SENIOR HIGH PROJECTS

Based on a Nov. 4, 2025 Fort Dodge Community School District Bond Referendum

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Voters will take to the polls Nov. 4 to consider a general obligation bond of up to $42.04 million for a number of projects at Fort Dodge Senior High. This image shows the potential for the weight room.

(A general obligation bond of up to $42.04 million will result in no tax increase to the debt levy property tax rate)

East and West Classrooms

• Replace heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems

• Update finishes (flooring, lighting, cabinetry)

• Customize classrooms to meet current special education needs

Update Building Systems

• Replace 70-year-old HVAC systems to improve efficiency and better regulate temperature

• Convert boilers and building systems from steam heat to water heat

Fine Arts (Band, Orchestra, Vocal and Little Theater)

• Replacing heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems

• Updated finishes (flooring, lighting, cabinetry) and add storage

• Improve acoustics

• Build theater department scene and prep space

Public Address and Safety System

• Update emergency notification and security systems throughout the building

Weight Room and Field Entrance

• Build new weight room and cardio equipment building

• Add interior training lane

• Provide restrooms for field access

Pool and Locker Rooms

• Reconstruct pool and install all new mechanical equipment

• Replace heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) system that is failing

• Renovate locker rooms to meet current code and accessibility requirements

Main Entry Canopy

• Create identified main entrance with improved safety and accessibility feature