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By Jon Tatting
jon.tatting@ecm-inc.com
The Cambridge-Isanti School Board found itself in prominent company Feb. 22 thanks to a significant return on a big investment involving energy conservation.
District 911 has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR Leader based on its demonstration of continuous improvement in energy efficiency district-wide.
 These improvements have resulted in over $317,000 in avoided energy costs over a two-year period, and a significant impact on the local environment. The C-I school district is the 12th such district in the Midwest and only the 25th in the nation to have achieved this status.
Also during the Feb. 22 school board meeting: Rep. Rob Eastlund assists 4th-grader Amelia Utecht, of Isanti Intermediate School, with building an Eastern Blue Bird house during the showcase portion of the meeting. Also pictured is Susan Burris (right) and Robyn Vosberg-Torgerson. Both Eastlund and Sen. Rick Olseen also provided legislative updates before the board. Photo by Jon Tatting
The award was formally presented to Dist. 911 Superintendent Bruce Novak and the school board last week before the regular board meeting.
The district earned the national award as part of the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program, a partnership with Hallberg Engineering, Inc. of White Bear Lake to reduce energy waste and energy-related expenses for schools in Minnesota by using low and no-cost strategies.
“It’s amazing what is being done in Minnesota with conserving energy,” said Joe Hallberg of Hallberg Engineering, before the school board, staff and students in attendance. “You are a model district, and I commend you.”
Bruce Nelson, senior engineer of the State Energy Office, also praised the district and provided letters of commendation from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the state’s education commissioner.
Team effort
 Built on the commitment of the superintendent, school board, and an involved staff and student community, Dist. 911 reduced its energy use by 19 percent during the last year.
Nancy Johnson, pictured with Superintendent Bruce Novak (left) and School Board Chair Jack Williams, Jr., shows the ENERGY STAR Leader Award.
Major projects included a focus on reducing energy use when students are in school, during after-school hours and on holiday breaks and an educational awareness campaign for all staff and students.
“What the Cambridge-Isanti school district has done is equivalent to taking 548 passenger cars off the road or providing electricity to 325 households for one year,” said Audrie Washington, ENERGY STAR Regional program manager.
“As only the 25th school district in the nation to achieve this status ... this district shows a strong connection between superior energy management, environmental stewardship, and financial savings,” she added.
With energy costs rising, energy efficiency has become a more important part of operating a successful school district.
District taxpayers will benefit from the savings realized by the efficiency work, while students have been given a hands-on opportunity to learn about and practice energy saving habits in their schools.
“My congratulations and appreciation goes out to our entire staff and student body. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment that took a team effort to achieve,” said Superintendent Novak, giving special credit to Nancy Johnson for her leadership efforts district-wide.
“Environmental and energy conservation is something we should all be teaching and practicing in our lives and what better place to do so than our schools and classrooms,” he explained.
Energy efficiency messages reach the classrooms through visits from the Alliance to Save Energy’s Energy Hog mascot and State Energy Office’s Energy Bike activities.
Students also help contribute to district energy savings through SEE Energy Squads that volunteer to help monitor behavior by leaving friendly reminders to those who forget to shut off their lights when they leave the room.
During the Feb. 22 board meeting, two students from Isanti Elementary School explained they’d give out “Oops” stickers for lights left on and “Wow” stickers for energy conserved during the school day.
School Board Recognition Week
The Minnesota School Boards Association has set Feb. 26-March 2 as School Board Recognition Week.
The C-I School District joins other districts throughout the state in recognizing and creating awareness of board member contributions to communities.
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