Sixty Years of Progress: Proud of our Past, Focused on the Future

By Dr. Karen Orcutt 
Orono Superintendent of Schools

 As early settlers populated remote areas of Minnesota, one of their first priorities was to build a school. That amenity—perhaps a luxury at that point in time —is what attracted many other settlers. The opportunity for their children to receive an education was more important than just about anything else.

Today, a quality school system is still one of the most important features of a community that prospective residents seek before deciding where to live. This year marks the 60th year that Orono Schools has proudly provided the students of Independence, Long Lake, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetonka Beach and Orono with an exemplary education.  

It’s natural to take pride in our national reputation as an outstanding school system and all that we’ve achieved to earn that acclaim over the past six decades.  

However, we cannot be content with simply calling ourselves “successful.”  

We must commit to build on our tradition of excellence so that both our students and our organization continue to thrive in the future. As society and business favor a more global perspective, it is more important than ever for us to challenge our students academically so they can compete with their counterparts around the world. Recent initiatives to increase academic rigor, particularly at the high school, have brought amazing results.  

The number of students earning AP Scholar Awards (those achieving top scores on Advanced Placement exams) increased 33 percent in two years: from 32 students in 2009 to 95 in 2011.

Orono Schools was among fewer than 400 school districts across the nation—and one of just 11 in Minnesota—honored by The College Board with a place on the second annual AP Honor Roll.

The prestigious recognition is for simultaneously increasing access to AP coursework, while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning top scores on AP exams.

The district also received the first Red Quill Legacy Award, which recognized Orono High School for repeatedly sustaining exemplary performance on the ACT and for utilizing training, resources and data analysis provided by ACT to best prepare students to perform well on the standardized test, as well as in college. 

The Orono High School Class of 2011 achieved the school’s highest-ever ACT composite score of 26.1. What makes that accomplishment even more impressive is that 92 percent of last year’s seniors took the ACT.

This past fall, the community stepped up and, by nearly a 70 percent majority, renewed a special technology levy. It is critical that our students have technology skills for future educational and career pursuits. Teachers are utilizing technology to personalize education and, therefore, improve achievement, for every student. Perhaps the boldest step in creating our future is the school board’s proactive work of approving the beginnings of a new Strategic Plan.  

This process will allow us to examine every aspect of our operation in order to measurably improve student achievement and to use taxpayer dollars to the greatest advantage. It will help us continue improving to ensure many more years of success.

One element that is as essential to the success of schools today as it was in the days of pioneer schools, or 60 years ago when our district was formed, is the support of the community. Just as everyone enjoys the quality of life that a strong school system provides, we encourage all of our stakeholders to be engaged so that we can continue meeting the challenges that lie ahead.