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Orono board approves 2025 Orono Action platform advocating funding flexibility and accountability options
Summary
The board approved the district's 2025 Orono Action advocacy platform, which emphasizes two priorities: funding flexibility and flexibility with accountability, including requests to allow levy funding for Q-Comp, remove per-pupil limits on long-term facilities funding, and permit additional assessments such as the ACT alongside MCAs.
The Orono School Board on Feb. 10 approved the district’s 2025 Orono Action platform, a one-page advocacy document the district will use with state legislators that prioritizes funding flexibility and flexibility with accountability.
Dr. Raina Shaw, co-chair of the Orono Action committee, described the two headline priorities: (1) allowing flexibility with funding (including requests not to eliminate Q-Comp or to permit districts to levy to support it, removing the per-pupil limit on long-term facilities management funding, and increasing local optional revenue from $724 to $974 per pupil); and (2) allowing flexibility with accountability (for example, accepting ACT or equivalent assessments in addition to the MCA, and permitting local control over Read Act dollars and maintaining current literacy incentive aid standards). "The biggest thing is we've narrowed down to 2 make big, categories. The first being allowing it for flexibility with funding," Shaw said during the presentation.
Tim Usit and other committee members described the platform as a targeted set of priorities drawn from broader AMSD recommendations and tailored to persuade the district’s four legislators. The board discussed the platform and noted a small printed provision that allows the committee to advocate for additional positions later, which board members said preserves flexibility.
A motion to approve the Orono Action platform passed by voice vote. The meeting record shows the motion and a second but does not include a roll-call tally; no board member registered opposition during the voice vote.
District leaders said the platform will be used in legislative outreach and that committee members already have met legislators to build relationships in advance of the session.
