Message From the Superintendent of Orono Schools

Message From the Superintendent of Orono Schools
Dear Parents,
You may have heard about the school shooting in a South Carolina elementary school today. Any act of violence is troubling, but school violence can be especially concerning for parents.
Please know the safety of our students and staff is, and always has been, a priority for us. We wanted to make sure you are aware of recent security improvements. Last school year, we became one of the first school districts in the state to employ Rapid Responder. This system provides our staff and first responders detailed information about school floor plans, location of utility lines, etc. This wealth of information greatly enhances our effectiveness in preparing for, responding to, communicating during and recovering from any kind of emergency – natural or man-made.
At the start of this school year, we reviewed building security procedures with our administrative team. Later this month, members of our security team will be participating in specialized training with staff members from Wayzata Schools that will give us greater insights into how we can strengthen our procedures and responses. We are also considering implementing a more advanced visitor management system.
Just as we examine the best practices in teaching and learning, or how to operate more efficiently, we pledge to continue studying and implementing the most effective methods of keeping a safe and productive learning environment. As parents, you are key members of our security team. We greatly appreciate your willingness to share information that might be useful in our efforts and your cooperation with our procedures. We thank each of you for caring for the children in our school community.
Sincerely,
 Dr.  Karen Orcutt
Superintendent of Schools