Return to Learn Family Update
May 21, 2021
A Message from Superintendent Rudolph
Good Afternoon Bluejacket Families,
This week, we received notice from the Minnesota Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) State Leadership Team that Cambridge-Isanti Schools will be recognized as a 2021 Sustaining Exemplar PBIS District. In other words, our schools are a model for others in Minnesota in teaching students to adopt positive behaviors and live by the values outlined in our five character traits of the Bluejacket Way: Respect • Responsibility • Honesty • Self-Discipline • Compassion
This week, I sat down with Sadie, a second grader from Cambridge Primary School, to talk about how students understand Bluejacket Pride. She talked about how students help each other, take responsibility for your belongings and own your own mistakes. I hope you enjoy this May C-I Schools Spotlight video.
We also recognize our retiring staff members this week. We have 21 staff members who are or have retired this year. If any of these staff have positively impacted your family, please send them a short note or email before the last day of school and join us in thanking them for their service.
Talking with our students, I continue to be amazed at their resilience and compassion for others. This has been a tough year, but our students are resilient and provide us hope for the future. You have amazing children, and we thank you for the privilege of entrusting us to learn with them and watch them grow: Every student, every day!
Sincerely,
Nate Rudolph
Transportation Model Change for Fall
In recent months we have been reviewing our transportation schedule for next year. On a survey of families in the district with more than 750 responses, we found that only 16.6% of families have a favorable opinion of a single-tier transfer system and 55.0% have an unfavorable opinion. The majority of families, 73.8%, would prefer a two-tier system. The top priorities cited were shorter bus rides and separating older and younger students. Some of our students ride the bus 2 hours and 5 minutes under our current model (4 hours and 10 minutes per day spent on the bus). Even in past years with a single tier, our longest routes ran just under 2 hours. The longest bus ride under a two-tier model is expected to be 1 hour and 5 minutes — a decrease of almost 2 hours per day on a bus. There is also a shortage of bus drivers in Minnesota, so we have had to contract out and pay premium prices for some recent transportation services.
Last night, the School Board approved a plan to change our transportation to a two-tier system beginning next fall. In a two-tier system, our primary and intermediate school students will be picked up first in the morning and our middle and high school students would be picked up later in the morning and dropped off later in the afternoon. The primary concern we heard from families with splitting the routes was the need for childcare. We hope that by notifying families now, there is ample time to make arrangements for after school care if you previously relied on older students to care for your children after school. If you are in need of after school child care, please consider Adventure Center, which is a convenient option at our elementary schools.
As we look forward to the start of next school year, we are excited that the new transportation model provides the following positive outcomes:
Shorter bus rides for students
Students riding buses with students closer in age
Fewer routes helps with the driver shortage
Less idle time for students on buses (positive behavioral outcomes)
Later start times for high school students and sleep studies point to improved students attentiveness and achievement
Equalized length of school days between buildings
Little change to after school activities for secondary students
Cost neutral change
COVID Vaccination Information from the Department of Education
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people age 12-15. This means all Minnesotans who are age 12 years or older are eligible to get vaccinated. The CDC also recommended that everyone age 12 and older get vaccinated. At this time, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been studied and authorized for use by people age 12-17.
Getting a Vaccine
There are a number of ways that parents can get their child vaccinated. To find a vaccine:
Walk-in or schedule an appointment through the State’s Community Vaccination Programs at the Mall of America, Roy Wilkins, Lino Lakes, or Oakdale. You can also get connected to a vaccine through Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector.
Minnesotans age 12-15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Information about appointments will arrive via text or email from the state’s vaccination partners running those sites: Vault Health, Primary Bio, or SpeciaLysts (Solv).
Contact your child’s primary health care provider, local public health, or a local pharmacy.
Use the Vaccine Locator Map to find vaccine locations near you.
There is no cost for the vaccine. Minnesotans do not need to provide an ID or medical insurance to be vaccinated.
Get reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines
FCC Emergency Broadband For Families
Families who are struggling to make ends meet and who qualify for free/reduced priced lunch are also eligible for a $50/mo reduction in their cost of broadband internet services, if you are with a participating provider. NOW is the time to enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program Please visit www.getemergencybroadband.org or call the toll free number 833-511-0311 specifically for information about the application. [print their flier]
C-I Online Registration
Cambridge-Isanti Schools
Email: dist-communications@c-ischools.org
Website: c-ischools.org
Location: 625a Main Street North, Cambridge, MN, USA
Phone: 7636896188