Educating Our Community: A Shared Responsibility

With almost two months of school in the books, we are inspired every day by our students and staff, who are fully engaged in learning and dreaming of their future. Guided by our Bluejacket values of honesty, respect, responsibility, self-discipline, and compassion, the students in our schools today will be the community members, homeowners, and business leaders of the future.

We want to thank all of the businesses and community members who participated in our Bluejacket Homecoming festivities — as we painted the town red and blue. Our schools are the foundation of our community, and we appreciate every opportunity to celebrate what a great community Cambridge-Isanti is for raising a family!

We’ve been asked a lot recently to predict the future. Will our schools remain a destination for families who value a well-rounded education— with excellent academics, arts, and athletics? Will our community continue to grow, innovate, and inspire? Will we provide the spaces and opportunities our students need to learn, lead, and thrive? 

Over the last two years, a nearly 60-member Community Based Facility Task Force—made up of families, students, staff, business leaders, and other community members—dedicated significant time and expertise to help evaluate current facility needs, prioritize improvements, and recommend a comprehensive path forward. The result of this careful planning, development, and engagement is the referendum before voters on Nov. 4. Based on our community task force recommendations, the district is seeking voter approval to fund safety improvements and modernization of our schools.

As a public school district, we have both a legal and ethical responsibility to plan for the future and clearly educate our community about the needs included in the upcoming school referendum. We hope all residents have reviewed the information on our website and used our tax calculator to see specific costs for specific property values. Our focus has been on transparency, accuracy, and accessibility. The facts are clear: we are seeking a tax increase of $5 per month on an average home to fund necessary improvements to all of our buildings across the district. This includes:
 

• Modernizing and repairing every school building by addressing deferred maintenance, capacity, and aging infrastructure—replacing roofs, HVAC systems, electrical and plumbing components, and improving accessibility to ensure safe, efficient, and welcoming learning environments for all students.
   
• Improving safety and security through redesigning main entrances with controlled access for Early Learning programs in Cambridge and Isanti, updated communication and lockdown systems, improved lighting and visibility, and better site layouts to enhance traffic flow and separation of buses, cars, and pedestrians.
   
• Enhancing learning environments by transforming outdated classrooms, labs, media centers, and specialized instructional spaces into modern, flexible, and technology-ready settings that support collaboration, creativity, and hands-on, future-ready learning experiences.

If Question 1 is approved, there is a second question on the ballot for a Fieldhouse. If Question 2 were to pass, this is an investment of an additional $11 on an average home and will provide indoor space for physical education classes, athletic practices and contests, and community recreation—reducing scheduling conflicts, supporting student wellness, and creating year-round opportunities for school and community use.

Over the last five years, we have worked in partnership with families and communities on clear goals to support families and student learning.  As we reflect on more than 300 meetings, presentations, and collaborative sessions to share information and listen to feedback, we are filled with gratitude for the active involvement of so many people in our community.  That includes:

• 61 community presentations and public meetings with civic organizations, radio interviews, and local gatherings—answering questions and clarifying facts.
   
• 68 planning and coordination sessions with staff, community partners, and advisory groups to ensure accuracy and alignment in all communications.
   
• Dozens of evening and weekend sessions to make sure working families and residents could participate in these discussions.

In a time when information travels faster than ever, ensuring that our community has the right facts is essential. Recently, a member of our community reached out to me for clarification. He had put a leading question into Google AI and incorrectly extrapolated project costs of almost double any figures the district has received from our financial advisors. This was an important reminder about how our world is changing and how important it is to modernize learning. We remind our students frequently: don’t believe everything you read on the internet, check multiple sources, and understand that AI can often return incorrect information (it even has a disclaimer saying so).

As we approach November 4, we have many meetings, presentations, and opportunities to meet with community members and discuss proposals. Please contact our office if you have questions. We also encourage everyone to visit https://c-ischools.referendumfacts.org/  for project details, tax calculators, FAQs, and videos.

Thank you to the many individuals who have participated in this important planning for future thinking for our community. Together, we continue to Educate, Empower, and Inspire Every Student, Every Day.