Like most Minnesota school districts, our District faces a significant amount of deferred maintenance, and we are committed to addressing these needs strategically. The district has made progress addressing critical infrastructure needs – all without increasing taxes – however our budget does not cover all of the needs in our District. 

Many of our facilities require significant updates due to their age. Their wear is evident, highlighting the need for improvement. At the same time, we have an opportunity to reimagine both the appearance and functionality of our buildings to meet modern learning needs.

We are committed to our mission to educate, empower, and inspire every student, every day. As part of our strategic priority to modernize learning spaces, we recognize that where students learn matters. Modern learning environments look and function differently than traditional classrooms—offering flexible, student-centered spaces that support collaboration, creativity, and real-world learning.

Instead of fixed rows of desks, modern classrooms feature adaptable layouts, breakout areas for small group work, integrated technology, natural light, and furnishings that encourage movement and engagement. These spaces are designed to support a wide range of teaching approaches and learning styles—helping every Bluejacket feel connected, challenged, and ready to thrive.

Investing in these environments is not about aesthetics; it’s about giving our students and educators the tools and settings they need to succeed. Whether it’s project-based learning, career-focused labs in areas like robotics or healthcare, or collaborative problem-solving exercises, modern learning spaces help prepare Bluejackets for the future. Just like a lab equips a scientist to do their best work, a modern classroom empowers Bluejackets to reach their full potential.

Click here for examples of modern learning environments.

The district has made significant progress in improving our facilities and addressing critical infrastructure needs through innovative solutions. Similar to classroom funding, the financial resources allocated to facility maintenance are often insufficient to cover all deferred maintenance requirements. Our district's buildings vary widely in age, with some as new as five years old and others nearing a century.

In 2022, we implemented a strategic and creative plan to invest $18 million in critical infrastructure improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, and other essential projects—all without increasing taxes. This initiative has allowed us to preserve and enhance our oldest buildings while ensuring a safe and modern learning environment for students and staff.

Our facilities are built on solid foundations, but many require significant updates due to their age. Their wear is evident, highlighting the need for improvement. At the same time, we have a valuable opportunity to reimagine both the appearance and functionality of our buildings, transforming them to meet the needs of a modern learning environment.

School district facilities are community assets, but like most Minnesota school districts, our district faces a significant amount of deferred maintenance, and we are committed to addressing these needs strategically. A portion of the required work can be funded through our Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) funds, which provide essential support for facility upkeep. However, the total maintenance needs exceed the available funding.

For this reason, this will be part of the comprehensive facility plan the Task Force will develop over the coming months. Our objective is to systematically address the most pressing maintenance concerns while working toward a sustainable future where LTFM funds are sufficient to maintain our facilities for years to come.

Several key facilities needs have been identified to support our growing and dynamic community and fall into the following categories: 

• Deferred Maintenance: Address overdue maintenance to ensure our facilities are safe and functional. 

• Safety and Security: Enhance safety measures to provide a secure learning environment for all students and staff. 

• Capacity: Expand our facilities to accommodate increasing student enrollment and community growth. 

• Modernization and Innovative Learning Spaces: Create learning environments that support programming demands and foster creativity and innovation. 

• Recreation, Athletics, and Activities: Improve and expand spaces for sports, recreation, and extracurricular activities to support student well-being and engagement. 

These needs reflect our commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience for every member of our community. 

While Question 2 is not intended to replace a traditional, standalone community center, it does respond to several long-identified community needs. Specifically, it includes the development of a Community Fieldhouse—a versatile indoor facility designed for shared use by both schools and the broader community.

The proposed Fieldhouse would feature a walking/running track, fitness areas, locker rooms, and public meeting space. It would be available for community use, offering new opportunities for wellness, recreation, and connection—especially during Minnesota’s long winter months.

Importantly, the amenities included in the Fieldhouse reflect the top-rated features identified in a recent regional study conducted by Visible Cities. This study explored community priorities for a potential community center, and the proposed features—such as indoor walking space and flexible recreation areas—ranked among the highest for local residents.

The Community Fieldhouse represents a strong step forward in meeting local needs by expanding access to high-quality, multi-use space that supports student activities, healthy lifestyles, and community connection for residents of all ages.

We've grouped these items into broader categories—like safety/security improvements, mechanical upgrades, classroom renovations, and site work—so the community can clearly see the priorities and how the work aligns with the needs of our schools. That’s why we engaged a nearly 60-member Community Task Force—made up of parents, staff, students, business owners, and local residents—to review the facility assessments, cost estimates, and priorities in depth. This group carefully examined the detailed line-item lists, asked questions, debated options, and ultimately developed the recommendations now before voters.

We understand that some have questioned our transparency. In reality, we have discussed these details openly in public meetings, community presentations, and task force sessions. Anyone who would like to review the full list of line items is welcome to make an appointment—we are happy to accommodate and walk through every detail.

Our goal is to keep the community informed while making the information clear, accessible, and focused on the improvements that matter most for safety, learning, and community use.

The new pathways are not optional - they are required under the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure full accessibility for individuals with limited mobility and other physical needs.

If you’ve attended sporting events at our high school over the years, you know that our current pathways are not sufficient. Uneven surfaces, steep grades, and limited accessible routes make it difficult for many to get to the stands, restrooms, and other facilities.

These improvements are about more than compliance—they ensure that all community members can attend school events, regardless of age or disability. Safer, more accessible pathways mean grandparents, parents with strollers, veterans, and individuals with mobility challenges can participate fully in our school and community life.

This line item is part of our deferred maintenance plan to upgrade building automation systems—specifically the heating, cooling, and ventilation controls in our schools. The “graphics” in this context are not decorative; they are the interface our maintenance staff uses to monitor and adjust HVAC systems across the district.

Upgrading this technology improves indoor air quality for students and staff by allowing more precise control of temperature, airflow, and filtration. It also makes our HVAC systems far more efficient—helping reduce utility bills by an estimated 20–40% through smarter scheduling, occupancy sensing, and system optimization.

This is a practical investment in health, comfort, and cost savings—not an unnecessary expense.

These items are not “luxuries”—they are end-of-life equipment that now require replacement for safety, compliance, and reliability:

• Athletic field lights – Installed in the 1970s, these lights are at the end of their life. They produce poor visibility, draw frequent public criticism, and pose safety risks. Last year, one fixture caught fire during a soccer game. They are also one failure away from going completely dark during events. Replacing them ensures safe, reliable lighting for students, athletes, and community use.
  
  

• Performing Arts Center (PAC) curtains – The curtains are at the end of their life and must be replaced to meet current fire safety codes, as required by the Fire Marshal. The PAC is a valued community asset used for school performances, local productions, concerts, and events, yet it has not seen significant upgrades in over 20 years.
  
  

• Wireless microphones – Current microphones are outdated, unreliable, and at the end of their life. They are essential tools for instruction, performances, presentations, and community events held in the PAC and other venues.

These replacements address safety, compliance, and accessibility while protecting important community spaces that serve thousands of students and residents each year.

This walkway is actually a catwalk over the media center, a central hub of learning in the school. In recent years, it has posed a serious fall risk for students, and several safety incidents have occurred. Adding a fully enclosed glass barrier will eliminate this risk while preserving the only source of natural light in the space.

If we used solid sheetrock instead of glass, the media center would lose all natural light—significantly changing the atmosphere and learning experience for students. The glass solution keeps the area bright, welcoming, and safe.

It’s also worth noting that this improvement represents less than one penny per month for the average household as part of the referendum, yet it delivers a meaningful safety upgrade for students.

While our district has done a commendable job maintaining facilities and addressing critical infrastructure needs, the reality is that aging systems eventually reach the end of their useful life. Mechanical systems, roofing, interiors, and exteriors now require replacement—not just repair. This is not a reflection of neglect, but of natural lifecycle expiration. Updating our aging buildings now avoids more expensive emergency repairs or replacements later. 

Moreover, educational needs have evolved. Our current learning environments lack the flexibility, technology, and specialized spaces that are now standard in modern education. These limitations impact our ability to deliver high-quality instruction and offer the same educational experiences as other districts in our area.

Expanding and strengthening Career & Technical Education (CTE)—also known as vocational programming—is a major priority in this referendum. Our community has made it clear—they want more opportunities for students to graduate with real-world skills, industry certifications, and pathways to high-demand careers. This plan directly invests in making that happen across trades, technology, healthcare, and other emerging fields.

The referendum would:

• Renovate and expand CTE/vocational classrooms and labs for trades such as manufacturing, construction, welding, automotive technology, agriculture, and culinary arts.

• Upgrade equipment and technology to meet current industry standards, preparing students for immediate employment or advanced technical training.

• Create flexible learning spaces to support emerging programs in healthcare, IT, and other high-demand fields.

• Improve safety and functionality in hands-on learning areas, ensuring modern, well-equipped environments.

For example, the proposed culinary arts lab is not a luxury—it’s a career-preparation space where students gain hands-on experience in food science, nutrition, hospitality, and business skills. Just like agriculture is evolving with drones and precision technology, every industry is changing rapidly. We must prepare students for a future we can’t fully imagine yet, with facilities that mirror the real-world environments they’ll encounter.

These investments build on the success of our current programs, which have already saved families millions in tuition through industry certifications and college credit opportunities. By expanding CTE/vocational capacity, we strengthen our local workforce, support area businesses, and give our students the competitive edge they deserve in a rapidly changing world.

No. From the very beginning, this proposal has addressed a broad set of needs identified through years of stakeholder and community input, facility assessments, and planning—not just deferred maintenance. While replacing aging systems and addressing deferred maintenance is one important part of the plan, the full package also includes:

• Safety and security improvements

• Modernizing learning spaces and technology upgrades

• Capacity solutions to address enrollment pressures

• Enhancing community-accessible recreational, athletic, and activity spaces

These priorities came directly from the work of a nearly 60-member Community Task Force, which included parents, staff, students, business owners, civic leaders, and residents. The Task Force reviewed district facility assessments, staff and community surveys, and professional studies before recommending a plan that balanced maintenance needs with improvements to support learning, safety, and community use.

At no point was this referendum “sold” as only a deferred maintenance proposal—our communications, presentations, and website have consistently reflected the full scope of the plan.

Restroom updates in the referendum are about privacy, safety, and ADA accessibility for everyone, not about adding dozens of new facilities. Many of our restrooms are original to the buildings, making them outdated, difficult to maintain, and not up to current building codes or accessibility standards.

The updated designs focus on modern, single-user restrooms in certain locations. These provide greater privacy for all students and visitors—similar to what you now see in restaurants, coffee shops, airports, and shopping malls. This approach reduces wait times, improves safety and cleanliness, and makes restrooms more welcoming for everyone, including those with disabilities, health needs, or young children.

These upgrades also address practical issues:

• Replacing aging plumbing fixtures to reduce maintenance costs and water usage.

• Ensuring ADA compliance so facilities are accessible to all.

• Updating ventilation, lighting, and finishes to meet current health and safety standards.

This is about common-sense improvements that bring our facilities up to the same standard you’d expect in other public places, while ensuring privacy and respect for every individual who uses them.

The referendum includes ($1.7 million) to install artificial turf at our stadium—a practical, long-term solution that improves safety, increases access, and reduces ongoing costs.

Natural grass fields in Minnesota are often unplayable for much of the year due to rain, snow, and thaw cycles. This leads to frequent cancellations, uneven playing surfaces, and higher injury risk for students and athletes. Turf addresses these challenges by providing:

• Consistent, safer playing conditions for physical education classes, athletics, and community activities.

• Extended seasonal use, from early spring through late fall.

• Cost efficiency over time—reducing expenses for watering, mowing, fertilizing, lining, and re-sodding, while eliminating the need to rest or rotate fields.

• Increased community value by hosting youth sports, marching band, and public events without damaging the surface.

With turf at the stadium, we can provide many more opportunities for students, including physical education, adapted physical education, baseball, softball, track, soccer, football, and marching band. It will also open the door for local club teams, youth sports, and community events throughout the year.

Just like the proposed Fieldhouse, the turf will also have a positive economic impact—allowing us to schedule and host more tournaments, competitions, and community events that bring visitors to local restaurants, hotels, and businesses. Over the life of the turf, the savings in maintenance and the increased use of the facility help offset the initial cost, making it a more responsible choice than continually repairing and maintaining overused grass fields.

Today, a majority of schools, colleges, and professional organizations have already moved in this direction. Cambridge-Isanti remains the only school district of our size in Minnesota without turf—continuing to face the limitations and higher costs of natural grass. This investment is about safety, opportunity, and long-term value for both our students and our community.