FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Process, Needs, Solutions

  • In 2019 Cambridge-Isanti Schools faced financial challenges – being a year away from statutory operating debt and having less than a 5% fund balance – and implemented $7.5 million in budget cuts over two years. Recognizing the need for additional funding, the district also sought an operating referendum which, after two attempts, was approved by the community and helped the district become financially healthy.

    While we have been addressing HVAC, parking, and energy efficiency improvements without impacting property taxes, the school district recognized the need for a strategic plan to align resources and focus district priorities for the future. A community task force was created in 2022 and, after six months of collaborative community-based planning, developed strategic priorities which the school board approved in December 2022.

    One of the four strategic priorities included creating and maintaining an innovative, comprehensive master plan in order to intentionally plan for our future facilities and programming needs. To achieve this, we have spent the last two years working with a K-12 Facilities Planning Consultant to develop a comprehensive facility plan for our district. 

    Currently, we are reviewing the needs of aging facilities, community growth, programming needs, and its financial picture as we consider next steps. To ensure we are prioritizing the right projects for our district and our community, a facility planning task force has been assembled to evaluate all the district’s facility needs and provide input on solutions.

  • We invited the entire community to apply to join the task force, ensuring a broad representation of all demographics. The task force includes students, staff, board members, business owners, parents, and other community members to capture the values, priorities, and spirit of our community.

  • Several key facilities needs have been identified to support our growing and dynamic community and fall into the following categories: 

    • Deferred Maintenance: Address overdue maintenance to ensure our facilities are safe and functional. 

    • Safety and Security: Enhance safety measures to provide a secure learning environment for all students and staff. 

    • Capacity: Expand our facilities to accommodate increasing student enrollment and community growth. 

    • Modernization and Innovative Learning Spaces: Create learning environments that support programming demands and foster creativity and innovation. 

    • Recreation, Athletics, and Activities: Improve and expand spaces for sports, recreation, and extracurricular activities to support student well-being and engagement. 

    These needs reflect our commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience for every member of our community. 

  • The Facility Task Force is actively engaged in assessing district needs and exploring potential solutions. All ideas and concepts will be carefully reviewed and prioritized based on task force input, community survey data, professional recommendations, and community feedback. To ensure transparency, summaries of task force meetings will be posted on the facility planning website, allowing the community to stay informed and engaged throughout the process.

Deferred Maintenance

  • The district has made significant progress in improving our facilities and addressing critical infrastructure needs through innovative solutions. Similar to classroom funding, the financial resources allocated to facility maintenance are often insufficient to cover all deferred maintenance requirements. Our district's buildings vary widely in age, with some as new as five years old and others nearing a century.

    In 2022, we implemented a strategic and creative plan to invest $18 million in critical infrastructure improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, and other essential projects—all without increasing taxes. This initiative has allowed us to preserve and enhance our oldest buildings while ensuring a safe and modern learning environment for students and staff.

    Our facilities are built on solid foundations, but many require significant updates due to their age. Their wear is evident, highlighting the need for improvement. At the same time, we have a valuable opportunity to reimagine both the appearance and functionality of our buildings, transforming them to meet the needs of a modern learning environment.

  • School district facilities are community assets, but like most Minnesota school districts, our district faces a significant amount of deferred maintenance, and we are committed to addressing these needs strategically. A portion of the required work can be funded through our Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) funds, which provide essential support for facility upkeep. However, the total maintenance needs exceed the available funding.

    For this reason, this will be part of the comprehensive facility plan the Task Force will develop over the coming months. Our objective is to systematically address the most pressing maintenance concerns while working toward a sustainable future where LTFM funds are sufficient to maintain our facilities for years to come.

Community Involvement

  • Our schools are owned by our communities. The facility task force has been formed to ensure the community plays a significant role in deciding which projects are right for our district. Additionally, a community survey will gather opinions from a broad cross section of residents. All of this input will be brought back to the School Board for the final decision.

  • The District is committed to open communication and transparency in our facility planning process. To keep our community informed and engaged, we have launched the Facility Planning Website. This site serves as a central hub for updates at every stage of the process, including the facility study, community survey results, Facility Task Force meetings and presentations, FAQs, a planning timeline, and opportunities for involvement.

    We invite you to explore the website and stay informed as we work together to shape the future of our schools!