The district will also begin working on a new wrestling room at FDSH in May.

All three major projects are included in the $27 million general obligation bond that passed about a year ago.

Duncombe Elementary

The historic Duncombe Elementary, which was the oldest school in the FDCSD at 104 years old, was forced to close in the summer of 2015 due to structural concerns.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Drake Hayes, first-grade student at Butler Elementary School, takes a peak at Nami's Gifts during Dodger Academy Tuesday afternoon at Butler Elementary School. Dodger Academy, formerly known as B.L.A.S.T., is an after school academic enrichment program.

Structural issues were noticed by the building’s staff during remodeling efforts that summer and were later verified by a structural engineer from architectural firm ISG of Mankato, Minnesota.

The building was demolished in April 2016, setting the stage for the new Duncombe to be built at the same location, 615 N. 16th St.

Kolacia Construction Inc., of Fort Dodge, was hired as the project manager.

Construction on the 65,342-square-foot school began in the fall of 2016.

Rasch Construction Inc., of Fort Dodge, completed the prepping of the site work.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Fort Dodge Senior High Marching Band flutist Karisa Meier, 16, performs her solo Friday afternoon during an exhibition at Dodger Stadium.

Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, completed the footings, foundation and structural steel work.

Woodruff Construction LLC, of Fort Dodge, is working on the remaining bulk of the project.

Woodruff was hired for the construction of the new 65,342-square-foot school in August 2016. The firm submitted a low bid of $10,937,700 at that time.

The Fair Oaks Middle School building, owned by Foutch Bros. LLC, of Kansas City, Missouri, has and will continue to house Duncombe Elementary’s approximately 350 students for the 2016-2017 school year while construction wraps up.

As of January, the majority of the interior concrete work was finished.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen The end of the day came rather suddenly for Izabellah Vazquez, 5, as she fell fast asleep at the end of her first day of kindergarten at Cooper Elementary. Her she gets a little help from Stacey Christy who carried her into the gym to await her ride back to daycare.

The structure is fully insulated, allowing for the building to be heated, according to Travis Filloon, director of building and grounds.

“There is really nothing that can slow the process at this point,” Filloon said. “That’s the most interesting, but hopeful, part of the conversation.”

“The meeting of the timeline initially was allowing for lost time due to weather,” he added. “But now, once they have heat, there is no trades being slowed down, so things are progressing very quickly.”

Completion of the school is scheduled for December 2017, with the expectation that students and staff will move in after Christmas break, according to Filloon.

The school will be two stories high and is designed to house up to 450 students with four sections of classes, kindergarten through fourth grade.

It will also feature additional room for picking up and dropping off students.

A large staff parking lot will be located on the northeast corner of the building.

Filloon said having Duncombe built in a neighborhood area is special.

“The ability to have a four-section building in a populated area of the community is rare,” he said. “The proximity for a neighborhood-type school is the largest attribute aside from it having advanced technology.”

Air conditioning, climate control, an updated lighting system, and increased access to natural light are a few of the amenities the new school will offer.

FDSH auxiliary gym

A new $2.38 million auxiliary gym that will be primarily used for sports practices is nearing completion at Fort Dodge Senior High.

The 8,200-square-foot gym is on track to be finished by July, according to Filloon.

“We feel pretty comfortable we’re going to be able to meet the deadline,” Filloon said. “Things are moving as well as they can, with the temperatures we’ve been experiencing.”

Kolacia Construction, of Fort Dodge, is the general contractor on the project.

The new gym, located on the southwest corner of the building, will be large enough to hold some competitions, with seating for up to 200 people.

“We had very little to no seating in the old auxiliary gym,” Filloon said.

The primary school gymnasium will not change.

The auxiliary gym will be separated from the main building, and is designed to allow public access without going into the main building.

However, an enclosed space between the new gym and school will make it possible to access the gym from the main building.

An additional 2,000 square feet will be used for three restrooms, additional storage capacity and a lobby area.

Also included in the project is the addition of a 67-space parking lot next to the new structure.

Wrestling room

As work on the new auxiliary gym nears completion, a project to move the wrestling room into the old auxiliary gym is approaching.

The wrestling room at the school that is used for team practices is to be relocated and remodeled, according to Filloon.

At a special meeting Feb. 6, the Fort Dodge Community School District board approved the opening of bids for the wrestling room project.

The current wrestling room is located between the boys locker room and shower areas, south of the main gym complex.

Its size is less than ideal and its access could be more convenient, according to Filloon.

“You have to go through the boys locker room to access it and it’s a smaller space with minimal climate control,” Filloon said.

The room is going to be moved into what is considered the old auxiliary gym.

At 5,000 square feet, that space will be about three times larger than the existing wrestling room, according to Filloon.

It will also have better climate control.

“The climate control for that space will allow for fresh air, as well as the ability to superheat the space, as they use it in that function for wrestling,” he said.

Allers Associates Architects, of Fort Dodge, is the architect for the project.

Terry Allers, principal architect and president, said the space will be designed to be able to heat to 90 degrees.

“The size of the space and the climate control will be the two big assets to the project,” Filloon said.

About two-and-a-half large wrestling mats will be able to fit within that space, according to Superintedent Doug Van Zyl.

The bulk of the remodel of the wrestling room will be a complete replacement of the existing wood flooring. The new flooring will be cushioned through the use of foam pads.

The wrestling mats will be placed on top of the new cushioned floor, a setup that has been proven to reduce injury, according to Filloon.

The mat area will be roughly 60 by 100 feet.

No major structural walls are being removed, Filloon said.

The ceiling throughout the room will be about 14 feet tall.

The remaining portion of the room will be used for exercise and storage. That encompasses another 26 by 60 feet of space, Filloon said.

“We are totally starting from scratch in that big open space,” Filloon said.

Matt Elsbecker, FDSH athletic and activities director, said the current wrestling room has a lot of history, but he believes it’s time for a change.

“The one that we have now is very small, very traditional,” Elsbecker said. “There has been a lot of state champions in that room the last however many years. A lot of blood, sweat and tears came out of that room.”

“This new room will be bigger and provide more opportunities for more kids, which is what we are all about,” he added. “It’s exciting because it gives us a chance to update a little bit. It’s good to stay with traditions, but it’s also good to add some things. I think this room will have the wrestling community excited about where Fort Dodge wrestling is headed.”

Bids for the project are due March 2 and a hearing before the board is set for March 6.

Construction is to begin in May with substantial completion set for September, Allers reported.

Through May 1, the old auxiliary gym will be used during physical education classes and basketball practices.

FD Community Schools offer wide variety of programs

In addition to a well-rounded academic, social and life skill curriculum, the Fort Dodge Community School District also offers a variety of extracurricular programs and activities that students can participate in to help enrich their academic life and social skills.

Jennifer Lane, director of communications for the district, shares the variety of programs, clubs and activities for the students.

There are also a host of programs for students who may need help with their academic success and programs for students who are more advanced than their peers.

In addition to the programs listed here, there are also a wide variety of athletic programs at the high school level.

• K-12 Talented and Gifted program

• K-12 English Language Learner program

• K-12 special education program

• CARES

• PRIDE

• Academic Behavior Collaboration Supports (ABC Program) at elementary level

• Kindness & Compassion Club at Feelhaver

• Dodger Academy after-school program for K-4 students (formerly BLAST)

• Band and orchestra as early as fifth grade

• Middle school volleyball, football, cross country, basketball, wrestling and track

• Middle school after-school clubs (10 offered this spring)

• FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club at FDMS

• Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Musical

• Advanced Placement Classes at FDSH

• Honors by Contract Classes at FDSH

• Freshman Academy

• Approximately 40 Iowa Central Community College classes are offered onsite at Fort Dodge Senior High, which allow students to acquire college credits before graduation.

• Iowa Central Community College Career Academy

• 21 FDSH Athletic Teams: volleyball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, basketball, wrestling, bowling, track, tennis, softball and baseball

• FDSH Clubs and Activities: Cheerleading, Color Guard, Dodger Dance Team, Dodger Senate, Drama/Speech, FCCLA, Dodger Men Water Polo, Chess Club, DECA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Gardening Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Health Occupations Students of America, Junior Civitan, Link Crew, Readers Anonymous Book Club, SkillsUSA, Teens Against Human Trafficking, World Language Club, Young Democrats

• First Tech Robotics Club at FDSH

• FDSH Transitional Alliance Program (TAP)

• FDSH 1:1 computer program beginning in fall

• K-12 Mentor Program for Students

• School Based Pediatric Clinics at FDMS and FDSH held on a Monthly Basis

• FDSH Alternative Education Program

• Gear Up Program (current ninth grade, follows them until they graduate)

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No