Security of the district’s facilities along with the safety of students, staff, and visitors are a focus of the school district. Measures are taken to provide a safe and secure environment for our students to learn.

The district has invested in technology and programs to assist with safeguarding our students as well as district-owned property including:

• Anti-bullying Programs—reinforce acceptable behaviors and provide training for students with resources and information to help report bullying and foster respect for others.
• Office Visitor Management System 
• Upgraded locks/hardware with secure keys that are not able to be duplicated at the local hardware store
• A card access system has been added to key points of entry at nearly every facility. 
• CCTV camera systems assist school resource officers by recording events that can be recovered via a digital recorder.
• School Resource Officers – a cooperative program between the cities of Cambridge and Isanti. 
• Security alarms—assist with monitoring schools 24-7 to protect the facilities from unlawful entry.

Providing a safe and secure environment for students while receiving an education is of the utmost importance to Cambridge-Isanti Schools.

The Building and Grounds Department strives to communicate with the community concerning:

• Construction Planning Focus and task force groups
• Levels of satisfaction for services provided by the Building and Grounds Department
• Building and Grounds web pages on the school district website
• Community Education use of the school district facilities in a typical year

The facilities are used by the community almost every day of the week 1600+ building permits are issued estimating 500,000 people using the facilities 150+ outdoor permits are issued in estimating 20,000 people using the outdoor facilities.  

The school district is continuing its efforts on an ongoing basis to review and update emergency preparedness planning district-wide. A district committee made up of administrators, nursing staff, local first responders along with input from a health and safety consultant has been meeting regularly to review and update emergency procedures. Training is given for organizational understanding to administrators so that they can conduct training in their respective buildings/departments.

The plans contain the following elements:
Formal plan—including details for all emergencies will be available in the district office and at each facility site. Included are:

• Emergency contact numbers—for local first responder agencies, utility company emergency numbers, and district representative emergency numbers have been developed and will be included.
• Universal Procedures for: Building Security, Evacuation/Relocation, Incident Command System, Lockdown, Media Inquiries, Student Release/Reunification
• Emergency Procedures for:  Assault, Bomb Threat, Bus Accidents, Child Abuse, Fights/disturbances, Fire, Medical Emergency, Severe Weather, Crisis to student, Building Utility Emergencies, Weapons

Energy Management: C-I Schools works diligently to reduce energy consumption through behavioral and operational methods.  Behavioral methods include: turning off lights when leaving a room, turning off computer monitors when finished, shutting down electronics at night, and more. Some of the operational methods of energy management include turning down thermostats 2 degrees in the wing and up 2 degrees in the summer, being more efficient in operating each building, controlling equipment, upgrading to more efficient lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment and more.

Personnel Management: The C-I Schools Buildings and Grounds Department consists of the Director, Building Head Custodians, Night Lead Custodians, Evening Custodians, Weekend/Security Custodians, and Maintenance Specialist.

Construction Project Management:  Cambridge-Isanti Schools utilize a continuous improvement approach to provide facilities that are high quality, clean, efficient, fiscally responsible, comply with local, state, and federal codes, and economize district resources. To learn more, view the Construction Management document.

Regulatory Compliance Management: Cambridge-Isanti Schools is committed to having schools that meet compliance standards. The district has had an active Health and Safety committee dating back to 1996. For more information regarding the Health and Safety Committee, see our district website's home page under health and safety. To learn more, view the Regulatory Compliance document.

Space Management: Cambridge-Isanti Schools contains 249 acres of land and 992,600 square feet of building space. To learn more, view the Space Management document.

• Lighting Upgrades to LED for energy savings (all schools)
  ($75K annual savings anticipated)
• Demolition of old boilers at CIHS, CPS, CIS (potential start date May 9)

• Wastewater Treatment System (CMS) (required following a citation from the MPCA)
• Steam to Hot Water Conversion (CPS, CIS & CIHS)
• Asbestos Abatement for Boiler System (CPS, CIS & CIHS)
• Building Automation System Replacement (CPS, CIS, IPS, CMS & CIHS)
• Air Handling and Roof Replacement (CPS & CIS)
• Masonry, Stucco, and Control Joint Repairs (CPS & CIS)
• Waterproofing and Foundation Leaks Repairs (High School Wrestling Room)
• Top Unit Replacement (CPS, CIS & CIHS)
• Water Conservation (CPS & CIS)
• Door Weather Stripping & Roof-Wall Sealant (CPS & CIS)

Window & Door Replacement (CPS & CIS) (delayed due to supply chain issues)

• School will end on June 7, 2022 for students.
• Adventure Center Preschool will continue through June 9. On June 6 and 7, class will be held as usual at CIS. On June 8 and 9, class will be relocated to Isanti Primary School.
• Teachers and staff will pack classrooms on June 8-9 and regain access to classrooms on or after August 29.
• No access to the building beginning June 10 through the duration of the project.
• All summer programs, including Adventure Center, will be held at other buildings throughout the District.
• The playfields and playgrounds will still be accessible during the summer.

• The last day of school remains June 9. Graduation is unaffected and will be held on June 10.
• The high school will have full access for all summer academics, arts, and athletics.
• A small number of classrooms are impacted. Principal Gibbs will work directly with the affected teachers.
• Some areas of the school will be closed to access during the summer (boiler room and adjacent custodial storage area, the rooms on the east and west side of the media center, the lower level hallway by the gymnastics gym, the hallway by the assistant principals' area, and exterior water shield work on the exterior walls of the wrestling room and weight room, and the ductwork in the gym).  
• Hot water will be down for most of the summer as part of the project. 
• The west side of the gym will have ductwork installed, and the gym will not have AC for part of the summer. However, the gym will be open.

• Upgrading to LED lighting in all schools; minimal disruption to classrooms and schools this spring
• Modernizing and standardizing building automation controls. This requires replacement systems at CPS, CIS, IPS, CMS & CIHS.
• District recommissioning project; building by building assessment and fixes for all mechanical systems

• The contractors will adhere to all Cambridge City ordinances and expectations.
• Noise or outside work will begin after 7 a.m.
• Contractor Trailers and cranes for hoisting equipment to the roof will be onsite.
• An array of contractors are involved in the project, so expect to see a variety of vehicles in the area.
• Minimal to no impact on traffic.
• Outdoor areas, including playfields, will remain open for public use.
• There will be no indoor access to Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Intermediate Schools.
• If you see suspicious activity after hours, please contact the Cambridge Police Department.

If you have questions or concerns about the project, please contact Travis Evenson, Director of Buildings and Grounds, 763-689-6211, tevenson@c-ischools.org.

Minnesota school funding formulas provide capital funds that, by law, can only be used on capital projects for long-term maintenance of school facilities and assets.

This year, federal pandemic funding is also available for indoor air quality and ventilation projects. 

The district will be purchasing the HVAC equipment direct from the manufacturer instead of through the contractor; this saves thousands in sales tax and resale mark-up. We are completing the project as cost-effectively as we can.

No referendum funding is going to this project. The referendum was specifically approved for hiring/retaining high-quality staff and enhancing career-technical education and college readiness.

We have conducted three district facilities studies in the last five years. The building would cost more than $80 million to replace. By investing in the critical infrastructure areas: mechanical systems, heating and air quality systems, roof, and exterior envelope, we can extend the life of the building for decades to come. We may need to modernize the building interior for learning in the future, but renovation is much less expensive than replacement.

Yes, the level of disrepair has reached a point where it is impacting the learning environment.

Critical heating and ventilation systems are on the verge of complete failure, which will inevitably lead to expensive emergency repairs.

The cost of delay is $206K per year in lost energy expenses and $1M in inflationary increases.

We have a fiduciary responsibility to maintain the facilities.