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By KADIN LUHMANN
The Fort Dodge Community School District Board unanimously approved a $6.4 million amendment to its construction agreement with Jensen Builders Ltd. for additional renovations at Fort Dodge Senior High Monday.
Zach Thompson, ISG Architects of Des Moines project manager for the high school, said Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, is working under a budget just shy of $6 million.
"We went through some pretty heavy value engineering from the starting of a storm shelter to having a walking track that brings it all the way down to where we’re at now," Thompson said.
Thompson gave an update on renovations to the high school’s front entrance, saying the improvements will not be completed by the start of the school year like ISG had planned.
"Construction started in June. It will not finish before school starts as we had hoped," Thompson said. "Some structural steel lead times kind of pushed us out there. We had some other lead times and work around for metal panels, but we think we got an alternate source there. So, I believe we’re still waiting on an updated final schedule."
Superintendent Josh Porter said the district is looking at October as an estimated completion date for improvements to the front entrance.
Thompson also shared updated completion dates for future projects, including renovations to the high school's pool and locker rooms, which he estimates will begin in December and finish in October 2027.
Thompson added that "major" renovations to the high school are expected to begin in the spring of 2027 and finish in the fall of 2028.
In other business, Carrie Rock, career education coordinator at the high school, presented a District Career and Academic Plan amendment to expand college access and work-based learning to high school students, as well as improved career development education for middle school students.
Rock said 66 percent of Fort Dodge Senior High students participated in college credit opportunities, adding that the state average is 70 percent.
Rock added that 30 percent of students participated in "work-based" learning opportunities, and expressed a need to increase that percentage.
"We really want to boost career readiness and postsecondary success," Rock said. "Looking ahead to next year, our goal is to increase the number of students who earn those experiences."
Rock said the next steps to expanding college access include addressing participation barriers, growing employee partnerships and increasing student awareness.
The board approved the DCAP plan.
Porter said Fort Dodge Senior High has 29 new staff members for the 2026-27 school year, saying all staff members will return to the school on Aug. 18, while the first day of class is on Aug. 26.
With the absence of "extreme" weather, Porter hopes the academic year will end by Memorial Day.
"I tell people if we can avoid any major weather catastrophes this year, this will be one of the smoothest, more better flowing years we’ve had for a school calendar," Porter said. " Mother Nature may tell us differently, but until then, that's the plan in front of us."
Another amendment the board passed was the approval of an "at-risk/drop out" program, which aims to help students who lived in a "divided" household or have financial difficulties, by hiring staff members.
"We’re super creative with our at-risk budget because this is how we get support staff, and this is how we get certain teachers and certain individuals," Porter said.
The board also approved a general education contract and service agreement with Central Rivers Area Education Agency for the 2026-27 school year to assist with special education.