School Board Update
February 2022
July 2023 School Board Meeting Recap
Items Approved by the Board
- Gifts and Donations
- FY25 Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Ten-Year Plan
- Resolution Providing for a Public Hearing to Consider Granting a Proposed Property Tax Abatement
- Designation of Identified Official with Authority for the MDE External User Access Recertification System
- Revised Designated Time and Place for Regular and Special School Board Meetings/Study Sessions for 2023
- Resolution Calling Special Election to Fill School Board Vacancy
- 2023-24 Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Membership Resolution
- Athletics Agreement between Cambridge-Isanti Schools and Art & Science Academy
- Athletics Agreement between Cambridge-Isanti Schools and Cambridge Christian School
- Policy 408 - Subpoena of a School District Employee
- Policy 420 - Students and Employees with Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases and Certain Other Communicable Diseases and Infectious Conditions
- Policy 503 - Student Attendance
- Policy 614 - School District Testing Plan and Procedure
- Policy 620 - Credit for Learning
Superintendent Update - Dr. Rudolph
It has been a very busy month in the district office. We have spent a majority of our time working through the 335 pages of new legislation that will impact our school district. In doing so, we have been intentional to ensure that our policies (236 pages), handbooks, code of conduct, and operational procedures are compliant with new laws and also reflect the values and character traits of our community. We have also been working diligently to cross reference new requirements with our new strategic plan which will be launched in September. There is a lot to do, but we have the right people and the right teams to make it happen. The old adage, “Teamwork makes the dream work” is certainly true as we prepare for an outstanding 2023-24 school year! GO BIG BLUE!
Administrative Services & Human Resources
By: Shawn Kirkeide
HR Specialist Hire
We are happy to announce that we are recommending to the board for hire, Lauri McKinnon for the position of Human Resources Specialist.
Lauri comes to C-I Schools with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the HR world. Lauri has spent the past 4 years with the Arts and Science Academy working as their District Office Manager. Prior to Arts and Science Academy, Lauri was Human Resources/Payroll Manager for Champion Air. In her previous roles, she has done benefit enrollment and management, leaves of absence, state reporting, marketing, wellness, and many other HR-related jobs. We are very excited to be working with Lauri as she begins to transition into her new role with C-I Schools. Please help us welcome Lauri to the District.
PowerSchool
We are currently in the process of changing over from Frontline/Recruiting & Hiring to PowerSchool/Applicant Tracking & Records for the purpose of job postings, and employee processing. We have had a great deal of support from PowerSchool as we make this transition. Our timeline has us on track to close out of job postings with Frontline on Saturday, July 15. We plan to go live with PowerSchool job postings on Monday, July 24.
Finance & Operations
Finance
At the July Board meeting we will present the authorization to call for a public hearing in August to issue bonds to address our aging parking lots. At the August meeting, the board will vote to approve the resolution, which will authorize the district to issue abatement bonds for parking lot improvements. The financing will be structured so that we are not raising taxes on the community. We are in the process of wrapping up another successful year and now we will transition into the audit process. The audit will wrap up in December. We will present our 10-year LTFM plan at the July board meeting. We are also starting the levy process, which the board will vote on the preliminary levy in September and then finalize in December after our truth-in-taxation meeting.
Transportation
We had a great showing at the Isanti parade last week where we were able to showcase the newest bus in our fleet and we passed out 500 flyers for hiring bus drivers. Our routers are busy working on routing for coming school year and our mechanics are busy getting our buses in shape to transport students.
Food Service
We want to thank Cathy Cade for her 15 years of service to the district as she transitions onto retirement. Cathy’s position head cook position at IMS will be filled by Jeanne Miller with Ana Oulette moving to the Cook position. We have also been able to hire two Food Service Assistants, which brings us down to being 12 positions short for the coming school year.
We are also making adjustments to personnel and equipment to get ready for next year as we join Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program. We are sending multiple communications to families to inform them of the changes.
Building & Grounds
The tennis courts at the high school were resurfaced this week. The window project at CPIS is on pace to be completed by mid-August. The pool scoreboard was installed at the high school.
Community Education
By: Christina Thayer Anderson
Summer Adventure Center
It is hard to believe we are halfway through summer! During the summer, Adventure Center serves students entering kindergarten through fifth grade. This summer, the program is averaging 140 students on site - our largest summer yet. Students participate in daily recreational, literacy, social skills, and group games and activities. Students take field trips to the public library, CIHS pool, local parks, metro-wide attractions, and the movie theater. Thank you to the staff team of nearly 50 people working daily to provide personalized support for all of our students’ needs and provide hands-on learning opportunities to support students’ emotional, physical, and cognitive development throughout the summer. Also, a big thank you to the custodial teams who continue to work to prepare the building for our next school year while also providing the daily cleaning needed for Summer Adventure Center.
Operation Back to School: Backpack Drive
This summer, our Volunteer Coordinators have organized the first district-wide Backpack Drive to meet growing needs within our school-community. We are seeking donations of unused school supplies and backpacks to have in time for Back to School Open Houses. Families in need will have access to these resources through principals, school support staff, and volunteer coordinators. Volunteer Coordinators have also received donations from local businesses to sponsor backpacks. Anyone interested in supporting the effort can learn more here. We are so grateful for our very generous community!
Teaching & Learning
The Department of Teaching and Learning welcomes a new MTSS and Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Kimberly Sagan. Kim most recently served as a Coordinator in the Elk River Schools. She brings incredible experience to this position, and we are fortunate to have her join Cambridge-Isanti Schools. This hire accompanies the restructuring of positions due to the retirement of the Federal Programs Coordinator, Tammy Kraft. Jennifer Lake will continue to coordinate district literacy programs and add Title I, ADSIS, and ELL responsibilities. Darla Peterson, Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development Coordinator will add the coordination of the American Indian programming. Both Jennifer and Darla have extensive experience in their new responsibilities. All changes will be reflected in the department organizational chart for the 2023-24 school year.
Technology
It is the time of year where many technology projects are taking place. This year we are implementing new wifi hardware and management software purchased utilizing ERATE funds, a new phone system districtwide, and new teacher laptops/desktops across the district. Our phone system migration project involves the adoption of a new phone system called 3CX. As a more up to date phone system, 3CX offers a VOIP system that includes the ability to make phone calls from a web interface and/or a cell phone app on the iPhone or Android platforms. This provides flexibility for all staff, including a teacher's ability to be more accessible during eLearning Days through the web interface or Chrome browser extension. Below is a timeline of the research, adoption, and implementation of the project:
SY 2021-22: Reviewed and received quotes from various VOIP system providers
SY 2022-23: Finalized specifics associated with the adopting and transition to a VOIP based system.
SY 2023-24: Implement the new phone system
- July 10 - Phone configurations began by TechCheck
- July 10-18 - Phone and network switch configuration continues, telephone number porting requested from Consolidated Communications, Technicians receive phones and will implement them in school offices first, then add them to classrooms when classroom set up begins.
- July 18 - Phone number porting is supposed to take effect and all phones should be in place.