What is Orono Action?

Orono Action is a nonpartisan committee of the Orono School Board with parent and community leadership that advocates for public education, specifically for the policies and funding that further the best educational outcomes for the students of our communities.

How can I participate?

If you wish to participate, please email us at oronoaction@orono.k12.mn.us

What does Orono Action do?

Orono Action advocates on behalf of our students by:

Developing a legislative platform endorsed by the School Board that articulates our legislative priorities.

The current platform was endorsed by the School Board on January 14, 2019, and is detailed below or as a PDF document here.

1. Increase special education funding to reduce the special education cross subsidy. For Orono, the special education cross subsidy is more than $1.4 million for the fiscal year 2018.
2. Diverting taxpayer dollars from transparent, accountable public schools, which accept all students, to pay for education at private institutions that are held to none of these standards is fiscally irresponsible and harms our future workforce. These diversion proposals include vouchers, tax credits and scholarships.
3. Index Local Optional Revenue to account for geographic wage differences.

• Additional provision: The Orono Action chairs, in consultation with the Orono School Board and superintendent, may advocate for additional positions supported by the Association of Metropolitan School Districts.
• Learn more about education funding in Minnesota here and/or in this presentation:
  “Making Sense of Public Education Funding.”

Communicating our priorities to the governor and local, state and federal legislators via email, phone and in person.

• Jerry Hertaus – MN House 33A
• Kelly Morrison – MN House 33B
• David Osmek – MN Senate 33
• Governor Tim Walz
• Dean Phillips – U.S. House 3
• Amy Klobuchar – U.S. Senate
• Tina Smith – U.S. Senate

Collaborating with additional stakeholders such as individuals, community leaders and other legislative action committees to further our priorities.

• Orono Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)
• Orono Middle School Parent Association (OMSPA)
• Spartan Parent Association (SPA)
• Association of Metropolitan School Districts
• Hopkins Public Schools Legislative Action Coalition
• Robbinsdale Area Schools Legislative Action Coalition
• Wayzata Public Schools Legislative Action Committee

Orono Action 2018-19 Committee Members

• Amy Alworth, Cochair
• Emily Bremner Forbes, Cochair
• Sarah Borchers, Orono School Board Liaison
• Martha Van de Ven, Orono School Board Liaison
• Sandie Berger
• Pamela Henjum
• Nicole Kaufman
• Michèle Kunz
• Peter Vickery
• Barb Whitney