School Board Update
October 2024
Administrative Services & Human Resources
By: Shawn Kirkeide
We have partnered with Costco Pharmacy to bring a Flu Shot Clinic to Cambridge-Isanti Employees and their immediate family members. We currently have over 60 staff and family members take advantage of this great opportunity.
We have also provided staff members the opportunity for a FREE Heartsaver Adult, Child & Infant CPR, First Aid & AED class. Please refer to the HR Headlines Newsletter to complete the registration form. These are the four class dates:
Monday, November 4, 2024
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Finance & Operations
Finance
Progress on the FY2024 audit is proceeding smoothly, with the auditors scheduled to be on-site next week as we approach the final stages. We have initiated the market process for the renewal of our property and liability insurance. While inflation has moderated, construction replacement costs remain elevated compared to previous periods, which will affect our insurance premiums. The ERP software transition to PowerSchool has been an extended process, but we are making steady progress with ongoing efforts to complete the conversion.
Transportation
To better manage driver absences, we have established a Driver Attendance Guideline, which takes into account the introduction of ESST time and additional holidays throughout the year. The buses ordered last year are still arriving and being integrated into our fleet, with new buses for this year expected to start arriving next month. In response to the Workplace Wellbeing survey, we have launched the transportation department’s version of the Bluejacket Brag: "Keep up the Great Work." We’ve already received some nominations, and we are also organizing team-building events, starting with a chili cook-off on Halloween, Thursday, October 31. Please join us for the event. On the hiring front, we continue to receive new applicants and currently have two drivers in training. At this time, only one route is covered by substitute drivers, as new full-time drivers are replacing them in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
Food Service
We are pleased to have recently welcomed several new employees, bringing our staffing to their strongest level in some time. Last month, all staff members successfully completed their ServSafe sanitation training, and we are proud to be awarding several newly minted Certified Food Protection Manager certificates, which will be displayed in kitchen offices across the district. We anticipate reviewing the results of the wellness survey and discussing potential improvements to enhance our operations.
Building & Grounds
We are collaborating with Nexus to address valving issues at the high school, with ongoing efforts to resolve the hot water problems. Additionally, we are exploring updates to the Woodland playground fence to enhance student safety. Plans are underway to schedule the installation of new light poles at CMS and IMS, with hopes that this can be completed during MEA week. Furthermore, we are coordinating with DW and Bjorkland to discuss winter snow removal in the new parking lots, which will require a revised strategy due to the updated layouts.
Technology
The month of October has several key technology initiatives underway. In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we have launched cybersecurity training for all staff. Additionally, James Klimek has been sending out weekly email reminders to raise awareness about phishing attempts, helping to protect our network and ensure that both employees and the organization stay cyber secure. The summer cabling project is also nearing completion, with final touches and terminations of connections being addressed throughout the buildings. This will increase our speed and bandwidth in our buildings. Last month, the District Tech Advisory Committee convened to discuss various topics, including gathering staff input on future classroom technology needs and designs. We will be collaborating with each building’s administration and BILT team to plan for these future needs. Additionally, the MN Technology Directors Group met this month to explore the role of AI in education, with districts sharing their current policies and procedures. This topic will continue to be a focus of discussion within the group and other education technology forums throughout the year.
Community Education
By: Christina Thayer Anderson
Middle School Programming (Strategy 3.4)
We have continued our focus on expanding programming opportunities for youth in grades three through eight this fall. This effort is in support of Strategic Plan goal expand opportunities for students to participate in school-based activities that build social connections. By braiding funding sources and creatively working with partners, we have been able to offer more than two dozen new opportunities for students at low costs with scholarships available for families. Most recently, Cooking Club, Knowledge Bowl, and Baseball Speed and Strength have generated excitement at the middle schools.
PreK to K Transition Team (Strategy 1.9)
This August, we convened our PreK to K Transition Team to begin our work on our Strategic Plan goal to increase alignment from preK to kindergarten. This team, composed of teachers, support staff, coordinators, and directors, will meet every other month for the next year to develop understanding of the preK and kindergarten experience, and where our district staff and systems can best align and support this important transition for students and families. The team will explore topics such as curriculum and assessment, levels of support, and family engagement. Additionally, due to grant funding through MDE, teachers will also have the opportunity to spend time in opposite grade level classrooms and have reflective dialogue on their observations. We are excited and looking forward to this important work!
Here to Help and Every Meal: Meeting Family Needs
Thank you to our extremely generous community for your ongoing support and donations. Already this fall, these donations have ensured more than 60 families have the school supplies, backpacks, clothing, outdoor gear, and basic hygiene supplies they need. Without our generous community, we would not have the resources to provide this level of support for families. If you are interested in learning more, requesting items, or would like to donate, please visit our website for more information.
In addition to meeting clothing, hygiene, and school supply needs, Cambridge-Isanti Schools partners with the Every Meal program. This food program provides students and families with full bags of food to take home over school breaks and weekends. Families may choose from five different food bag options tailored to various cultural and dietary preferences. If you are interested in learning more and signing up for the program, please visit our website. Thank you to our dedicated staff, Volunteer Coordinators, community, and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure we are able to provide these necessary and essential supports to all learners and families in C-I Schools.
Teaching & Learning
September 27 was another day of training success! This day was a follow-up to our professional learning experience from August’s workshop week.
Catalyst Training - EC-8 Licensed Staff (Strategies 1.7, 2.1)
We did our second, half-day training in the Catalyst Approach for many of our licensed staff. Again, I want to send a huge thank you to Kim Sagan for all of her efforts and work to organize and support our Catalyst training. Also, the feedback has continued to be so positive as you can see from the data below:
Student Support Services
By: Dr. Julie Williams
McKinney-Vento Report
Each year, the district is required to submit data to MDE for the Consolidated State Performance Reports (CSPR). The CSPR is a data collection tool administered annually by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). The CSPR tool collects information relating to activities and outcomes of specific ESEA programs, as well as information relating to activities and outcomes of the McKinney-Vento Act. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is federal legislation that was passed on December 10, 2015. It amends three separate federal laws: the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and the Education Flexibility Partnership Act.
To be eligible for services according to the McKinney-Vento Act, a homeless student must meet the Act’s definition of homeless. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” [42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)]. Lacking any one of these three conditions would make a child eligible. In other words, if the residence is not fixed, regular, and adequate, it is considered a homeless situation. As the District Homeless Liaison, I work with the building liaisons to determine eligibility for students based on their unique situations. Eligible students then receive assistance which may include transportation, reduced activity fees, and Title I services.
For the 2023-2024 school year, Cambridge-Isanti Schools had 24 students who qualified under the McKinney-Vento Act. Students were in situations where they were doubled, in shelters, staying in hotel/motel/campground, or unaccompanied youth according to the data.