District highlights grant-funded MTSS work, schedules staff professional development

The Orono Public School District heard a detailed presentation on the district’s multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) work and how it connects to the 'science of the positive,' a prevention-oriented framework the district is applying with federal grant funding.

Dr. Fletcher introduced Ally Chorley, who described the coalition’s grant-supported effort now in its third year and said the work will continue in a planned multi-year cycle. "The science of the positive invites us to go from fixing deficits to building conditions of success," Chorley said, summarizing the approach.

Chorley outlined classroom ecology elements the district will emphasize—physical, relational, emotional environments, predictability and routine, and connectedness—and described how those elements support belonging, regulation and learning. She said the district will use professional development time (a planned PD day) featuring Dr. Clay Cook to focus on mindsets and practical classroom strategies.

Board members praised the prevention focus and asked about exemplars; Chorley said Minnesota leads much of this work and that Orono participates in a cohort. Dr. Fletcher said the district will return with student survey data to show change over time.

Why it matters: The presentation frames the district’s prevention and whole-child efforts and signals ongoing staff training and data collection to measure impact. The program is grant-funded, which board members noted helps advance the work despite limited local budgets.

What’s next: Staff will lead PD sessions and bring back implementation updates and student survey results to the board.