03-24-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 10,2003 4. OroDo Alliance for Education—Bowman Gray Bowman Gray of the Orono Alliance for Education stated that the organization was rooted in the Orono Education Fund, which was founded in 1956 to provide classroom support and scholarships for Orono students. Three years ago they raised $50,000 to help the schools purchase supplies. After that, the Orono Education Fund called on Gray to help them organize into a 501 (cX3) to become a development office for the schools, similar to those in private schools. The Alliance offers an opportunity for the community to donate to the schools and direct how the funds will be disbursed. The school makes a grant request and the Alliance determines if there is adequate funding to grant the money. They are trying to build an endowment. Over the last three years they have granted back to the schools over $500,000. They give away more local scholarships than any other group in the area and fund the Distinguished Alumni Award. On April 24“* Loric Line will be giving a benefit concert at the high school. Tickets are being sold for $30, $50 and $100. The night of the concert, any unsold tickets will be available and no one will be turned away because the concert is to be a community event. The police and parents ’ organizations will have booths set up. They would like some Council members to attend the concert. Gray stated the school district is a source of pride for the Alliance. Gray stated that his term as president of the Alliance is almost over. Susan Brio will be the next Alliance president. White stated that his children have gone through the Orono schools and they are very pleased with the schools and impressed with the amount of scholarships made avail^le locally. Mayor Peterson stated that she is also very pleased with the Orono schools and her children have had success getting into colleges thanks to the education they received in Orono. PARK COMMISSION COMMENTS—ANDREW MCDERMOTT McDermott stated that the Park Commission met this month, and Nygard attended. They were looking into having the University maintain the French Creek Preserve Prairie for them. They discussed the trails and sidewalks that will be coming up in the next couple of years and have discussed having the County help w iden the shoulder of County Road 19 to allow bikes to use it. They discussed the trail along County Road 6, which will connect from Old Crystal Bay Road to where Willow View trail left off by using state aid funds.