Your Ongoing Support Matters
Cambridge-Isanti Schools is fortunate to have a community that cares deeply about our schools and wants to help. We welcome volunteers and encourage individuals interested in supporting students and schools to complete the district's volunteer application. The enthusiasm and generosity our community continues to show means a great deal, and we are grateful for it.
The district is also open to direct conversations with businesses, licensed contractors, organizations, and community members interested in donating labor, materials, services, expertise, and/or financial support for facility improvement projects. We greatly appreciate these offers and are always willing to explore opportunities that benefit our students and schools.
Following recent community discussions, district staff is beginning to reach out to individuals and organizations who have expressed interest in supporting Cambridge-Isanti Schools' facility projects. These conversations will help us learn more about their interests and identify opportunities that align with district needs and applicable requirements.
Facility improvement projects involve significant responsibilities designed to protect students, staff, taxpayers, and volunteers alike. Public school districts must follow established processes related to licensing, insurance, building codes, inspections, warranties, and, for larger projects, state competitive bidding and procurement criteria as governed by municipal contract law and state statute.
Examples of Ways Community Members May Be Able to Help
Community support takes on many forms. Depending on district needs and project requirements, individuals, businesses, and organizations may be able to assist through approved volunteer projects, donation drives, fundraising efforts, donated materials that meet district specifications, professional consultation, or connections to licensed, bonded, and insured contractors.
Some work in school facilities requires additional review or must be completed by licensed professionals. This may include work related to electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, flooring, ceiling tile, concrete, structural changes, accessibility improvements, security systems, environmental review, or any project that may affect building systems, code compliance, warranties, inspections, or long-term maintenance.
Because facility projects vary widely in scope and complexity, each opportunity must be reviewed carefully before work begins. Some facility work also carries risks that go beyond what may appear on the surface. For example, flooring and ceiling tile replacement in older buildings may require professional asbestos abatement before any other work can begin. This is a legal obligation and a critical safety measure, not something that can be skipped or handled informally, regardless of how straightforward the visible repair might seem. The same principle applies across all facility projects: requirements must be met and the appropriate process followed before any work can proceed.
Prioritizing Facility Needs and Long-Term Solutions
In addition to safety, legal, and code requirements, as a district with limited resources, we must also prioritize facility investments based on the greatest need. Our priorities, in order, are structural integrity, code compliance, and safety and security. While cosmetic improvements can enhance the appearance and pride of our schools, they are not essential to the function, safety, or operation of our facilities and therefore remain a lower priority when resources are limited.
Our maintenance and custodial teams do an exceptional job caring for our buildings and responding to the day-to-day repairs and upkeep required to keep our schools operating. The district's challenge is not routine maintenance, it is addressing the large-scale, high-cost capital projects that naturally come with aging facilities. These projects require significant planning, specialized expertise, and substantial financial investment, making them difficult to complete without dedicated funding.
The examples below represent just a few of the facility projects and improvement needs across the district. They are included to help illustrate why donated labor alone, while deeply appreciated, may not fully address many of the highest-priority facility needs. Many projects involve costs that extend well beyond labor, including materials, specialized equipment, engineering, code requirements, permitting, inspections, environmental review, warranties, and long-term maintenance.
Smaller Rooftop HVAC units serving classrooms and office spaces: starting at approximately
$17,000 per unit
. Individual school buildings may require 15-20 or more units, depending on the size and layout of the facility.
Rooftop chiller units: approximately
$250,000,
depending on the size and layout of the facility.
Cambridge-Isanti High School front concrete entrance and ADA improvements: approximately
$281,000
based on an estimate received in 2024.
Cambridge-Isanti High School hot water system improvements: approximately
$300,000
over multiple phases.
Classroom wall improvements at Cambridge Primary School to create enhanced learning spaces for special education students: approximately
$1 million.
Classroom modernization and casework across district buildings: approximately
$4 million.
Classroom flooring and ceiling tile replacement: project costs vary and require potential asbestos abatement in addition to labor and materials.
Cambridge-Isanti Schools takes pride in maintaining our facilities and addressing maintenance needs as they arise. When repairs are needed, our goal is to make fiscally responsible decisions that provide safe, durable, and long-lasting solutions for students, staff, and the community. In many cases, replacing a small portion of a system or surface is not feasible due to safety standards, building materials, code requirements, or the condition of surrounding areas. Rather than relying on temporary fixes that may lead to additional costs over time, the district prioritizes solutions that protect taxpayer investments and extend the life of our facilities.
If you are interested in partnering with us to improve our facilities, please contact email dist-communications@c-ischools.org. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how your time, expertise, materials, and financial contributions may support district priorities while meeting established requirements.
We are incredibly grateful for the many community members and organizations who give back throughout the year. From volunteering in our schools to donating winter gear, school supplies, and other resources, your generosity makes a meaningful difference for our students, staff, and schools. Together, we continue building a stronger Bluejacket community.
References
Minnesota Uniform Municipal Contracting Law
Applicable building, safety, licensing, insurance, and code requirements as required by state and local regulations