Orono School District

The Orono School District (ISD #278) Minnesota public school district located in the west-metro area of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The school district, organized in 1949, serves part or all of the following areas: Independence, Long Lake, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, and Orono.[1] (District Map.) The district superintendent is Dr. Karen Orcutt.

Overview

Located in Long Lake, Minnesota, the district serves grades pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade, in five different school buildings.

The school district had a student population of 2,850 and 206 teachers during the 2005–2006 school year.[2]

The schools are located on a 120-acre (0.49 km2) campus along Old Crystal Bay Road.[1]

The district mascot is the Orono Spartans and the school colors are navy and scarlet.

The average number of instructional days in the district is 167 days.[3] The district calendar includes of "no school" days for the Minnesota Education Association (MEA), Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Summer Break, President's Day, Spring Break, Good Friday, Memorial Day, and other professional days.[4]

The district consists of six main school buildings: Orono High School, Orono Middle School, Orono Activities Center, Orono Intermediate School and Schumann Elementary School. Other district facilities consist of a childcare facility, a swimming pool, the Orono Ice Arena, a stadium, tennis courts, many outdoor fields, and an Activities Center which includes indoor basketball and tennis courts as well as weight and cardio facilities. The Orono Discovery Center is located in Maple Plain but is still considered a community center provided by the district.[1]

In 2008, a $39.4 million referendum was passed 1,845 to 1,713 which will contribute to the improvement of Schumann Elementary School, Orono Intermediate School and Orono High School. The referendum will raise taxes on a home with an estimated value of $300,000, by $125 annually. This money will be used for electrical and mechanical improvements, and interior and exterior improvements to these schools. Air conditioning will be implemented in the high school.[5] Along with the passage of this referendum in 2008, seven Orono residents sued Orono Schools, stating the referendum should have been conducted by mail instead of by polling at the district's main office.[6] The suit was dismissed by a Hennepin County District Court judge.[7]

Orono High School

Orono High School (OHS) was constructed in 1968,[8] is the only high school in the Orono School District, and serves grade 9 through 12. Its principal is Dr. Amy Steiner.

In 2018, Orono High School was named the #4 high school in MN.

"Dr. Amy Steiner, currently serving as an assistant principal at Minnetonka High School, has been named principal of Orono High School. She will succeed David Benson, who is retiring at the end of this school year after 25 years in the district as principal of Orono Middle School and Orono High School. Her appointment was approved by the School Board at its April 9 meeting." [9]

OHS starts at 7:50 am and ends at 2:30 pm.[10]

The high school had 950 students in the school year 2019-2020. 91 percent of the student body was of Caucasian descent with the remaining 9 percent being of American Indian/Alaskan, Asian, Black, Greek and Hispanic descent, scoring 0.19% on the diversity scale.[11] 5% of the student body is eligible for free or reduced lunch.[12] The school's graduation rate is 96%, with 91% of graduates enrolled in post-secondary education.[10]

The school has 51 teachers and an average class size of 18 with a student-teacher ratio of 19:1.[13]

The school year starts in September and ends in June and is based on a semester schedule.

The required curriculum consists of English, social studies, science, mathematics, physical education/health, and fine arts. Around 60 elective courses are offered at OHS, including fine arts, business/marketing education, and world languages (German, Chinese, and Spanish). The school has AP classes in the following subjects: English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Biology, Environmental Science, Psychology, Human Geography, Music Theory, World History, US History, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science and Principles, Chinese, German, and Spanish. Advanced and enriched courses are also offered.[14] The school has dual high school and college enrollment programs.[10]

GPA at the high school is calculated on an unweighted 4.0 scale.[14]

The school's academic teams consist of: Debate team, DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), History Club, Literary Magazine, Math Team, Mock Trial, National Honor Society, Newspaper, Quiz Bowl team, Science Team, Speech Team, Student Senate, and Yearbook Photoshop contests.[15]

The school has three bands: concert band, symphonic band, and wind ensemble, as well as a jazz band, a pit orchestra, marching band and pep band. The school also has four choirs: men's chorale, treble choir, concert choir, and chamber choir. The drama department puts on three theatrical works a year: a fall musical, a winter one-act play, and a spring play.

Orono is a member of the Wright County Conference and Minnesota State High School League.

The girls' soccer team won the state title game in 2009, defeating the Blake School, and placed 2nd in 2017, 2018, & 2019 losing all three times to Mahtomedi Senior High.

The boys' golf team won three consecutive state titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, the Orono boys' basketball team won the Class 3A State Championship, defeating Columbia Heights.

In November 2016, the Orono Girls Swim Team's 200 Medley Relay won 1st place at the state championship meet and earned an All American Consideration Time.


Orono Middle School

Orono Middle School (OMS) is the newest school in the district. It was built in 2000 and houses grades 6 through 8. The principal of OMS is Dr. Patricia Wroten and the associate principal is Kimberly Van Eyll.

The hours of the school day are 8:00 am to 2:40 pm.[16]

697 students attended OMS in the 2019-2020 school year, with a student to teacher ratio of 17:1.[17] The average class size is 26 students and the total number of teachers is 40.[18][19]

The four exploratory programs at OMS consist of Art, Computer Applications, Technology, and Performing Arts. [16] The Music Department consists of a band and a choir for each grade...

The middle school has a special layout of "up" and "down" houses for each grade level.

Students seeking a higher level of the curriculum may opt to take Enriched courses in the following classes:

  • Mathematics
  • English
  • World Language
  • Global Studies


Orono Intermediate School and Schumann Elementary School

The Orono Intermediate School has 581 students in the grades three through five. The student teacher ratio is 19.0[20] and the average class size is 25.

The principal is Mrs. Marie Jodul.[21]

The Intermediate School building, built in 1950, was the district junior and senior high school until 1968 when a new high school was built. it continued to serve as the middle school for the district until 2000, when the new Orono Middle School was built and opened.

School hours are 9:10 am to 3:40 pm.[21]

Connected to the Intermediate School is Schumann Elementary School, which houses grades kindergarten through grade 2, and the multi-age classrooms. It is the only elementary school in the Orono School District and is the second oldest school building in the district, constructed in 1956.[8]

Mr. Adam Lamparske is the principal and the staff consists of 55 faculty members. The average class size is 21.

School hours are 7:10 am to 7:15 am.

The multi-age classroom includes grades one and two and allows children of both grades to participate in classes together as opposed to a single teacher option.[22]

Orono Community College

Beginning in 2021, the Orono Community College will offer courses to a wide variety of students and community members alike to enrich their higher level education. Community College courses can additionally be completed by students enrolled at the Orono High School during certain periods of the day, and allow students to earn college credits during their high school education period.

Upon construction completion, Orono Community College will offer Associates degrees in the following areas of study:

  • AS - Associate of Science
  • AGS - Associate of General Studies
  • ASN - Associate of Science in Nursing
  • AF - Associate of Forestry
  • AT - Associate of Technology
  • AAB - Associate of Applied Business
  • AAS - Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Arts and Sciences
  • AAT - Associate of Arts in Teaching
  • ABS - Associate of Baccalaureate Studies
  • ABA - Associate of Business Administration
  • AES - Associate of Engineering Science
  • ADN - Associate Degree in Nursing
  • AFA - Associate of Fine Arts
  • APE - Associate of Pre-Engineering
  • AIT - Associate of Industrial Technology
  • AOS - Associate of Occupational Studies
  • ASPT-APT - Associate in Physical Therapy
  • APS - Associate of Political Science or Associate of Public Service

Orono Community College currently offers online courses through the third-party education platform, Schoology, including:

  • Business Principles
  • General Health
  • Applied Technologies
  • Reanimation Theory
  • Campaigning
  • Government Studies
  • Global AP
  • AP Jans' Class
  • World Drumming

Orono Plus

Orono Plus, (stylized Orono PLUS) is a district-wide attempt to connect students of the school to adequate technology for education purposes. The students are provided a pre-owned Chromebook or Eee PC, which they are responsible for during the school year.

Software

The Orono PLUS Chromebooks are running ChromeOS, with additional Securly web filtering installed on them. The school-owned Eee PCs are equipped with Windows. The school uses a mix of the cloud-based G-Suite for Education, and local-based Microsoft Office applications for their educational use.

They also use a service called Schoology, which is the 3rd time Orono has changed online learning in 3 years.

EOL Service

Due to the slow and old age of the school's Eee PC netbooks, they are being phased out of operation, deemed "unable to perform the tasks required for education". By 2020, the school expects to have an all-Chromebook fixture, with the previous Eee PC generation being recycled and forgotten.

Lawsuit of 2008

(2008) Seven residents of the Orono School District area filed a lawsuit against the school district after approval of a $39 million bond referendum. The residents claim that this should have been completed via the Postal Service, however, the school district completed it through the district office. [6]

This vote was to spend this bond on improving the quality of the school districts buildings. [6]

Superintendent of schools, Karen Orcutt responded to the resident's concern, "We're certain we've done everything correctly. We're turning this over to our lawyers." [6]

The lawsuit was concluded, as decided upon by Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren, who said the referendum was "educationally and economically advisable." [6] The lawsuit was later dismissed. [7]

References
  1. Orono Public Schools, About Our District, retrieved July 7, 2020.
  2. National Center for Education Statistics, District Detail for Orono Public School District, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  3. Minnesota Department of Education, 2006-2007 Number of Instructional Days-Average by Public School District Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, School and District Statistics, published March 28, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  4. Orono Public Schools, Calendar Archived 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  5. Brett Stursa, "Orono voters say yes to referendum", Lakeshore Weekly News, published February 18, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  6. Patrice Relerford, "Residents sue Orono schools, claim referendum not conducted correctly", StarTribune.com, published February 19, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  7. Patrice Relerford, "Lawsuit challenging Orono referendum is dismissed", StarTribune.com, published March 6, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  8. Orono Public Schools, Executive Summary of Proposed Project, Building Minds, Minding Buildings, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  9. "District hires Dr. Steiner as new OHS Principal". www.orono.k12.mn.us. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  10. Orono High School, About Us Archived 2009-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, published October 29, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  11. "Orono Senior High School Profile (2020) | Long Lake, MN". Public School Review. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  12. National Center for Education Statistics, School Detail for Orono Senior High, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  13. "Orono Senior High School Profile (2020) | Long Lake, MN". Public School Review. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  14. Orono High School, Registration Guide 2008–2009 Archived 2009-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  15. Orono High School, Academic Teams Archived 2009-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  16. Orono Middle School, General Information Archived 2015-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  17. "Orono Middle School Profile (2020) | Long Lake, MN". Public School Review. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  18. "District Statistics". Orono Public Schools. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  19. "Orono Middle School Profile (2020) | Long Lake, MN". Public School Review. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  20. National Center for Education Statistics, School Detail for Orono Intermediate Elementary, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  21. Orono Intermediate School, General Information Archived 2009-05-08 at the Wayback Machine, published October 30, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
  22. Schumann Elementary School, General Information Archived 2009-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, published October 30, 2008, retrieved February 10, 2009.
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