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Orono Foundation gives $839,000 to district for literacy, career center and facilities
Summary
The Orono Foundation for Education presented an $839,000 grant to Orono Public School District for K–5 literacy, a college and career center, teacher development, auditorium lighting and other programs, district leaders and foundation officials told the school board.
The Orono Foundation for Education presented an $839,000 grant to the Orono Public School District during the board meeting on Sept. 8, 2025, the foundation’s chair said.
The foundation’s gift includes $250,000 for a new college and career center, $200,000 through the annual fund to support district priorities, $110,000 for teacher professional development (the Educator Excellence Fund), $125,000 dedicated to K–5 literacy (including support for the new elementary reading curriculum), $100,000 for high school auditorium lighting, $45,000 for character-education programming, $6,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors and $3,000 for the annual retirement breakfast, Katie Hollerman, board chair of the Orono Foundation for Education, told the board. “We are proud to gift the $839,000 in support of the schools for the 2024–25 year,” Hollerman said.
Why it matters: Foundation dollars will underwrite classroom and extracurricular programs the district says it could not sustain on its own. Superintendent Dr. Flesher said the annual fund portion supports class size at K–6, the middle-school team model and advanced-placement courses at the high school.
What the board heard: Dr. Flesher thanked the foundation and detailed how those funds would be used across the district. “The foundation’s tireless fundraising efforts help the Orono schools … we just simply wouldn’t be able to offer the wide array of rigorous courses without the foundation’s annual support,” he said.
Student perspective: Molly Hollerman, a junior and student volunteer with the foundation, thanked donors and said a permanent college and career center will benefit the classes of 2026, 2027 and future graduates. “Having a dedicated space for college and career planning is such an absolute gift,” she said.
Board response and context: Board members and district leaders repeatedly thanked the foundation, noting the grant is one of the largest single annual gifts the foundation has made to the district. Several board members and staff underscored that the grant will fund both one-time capital items (auditorium lighting and the college-and-career center) and recurring supports (annual fund and educator development).
What’s next: The presentation concluded with board appreciation and a photo at the meeting. The board did not record a formal vote accepting the grant on the transcript; district staff indicated the funds will be applied to the district projects and programs described by Hollerman.
