Owatonna Public Schools

Free Summer Meal Program
OPS Nutrition Services will again offer free summer meals to all children and teens ages 1-18 years old. The program runs Monday-Thursday of each week, June 15-August 6. Breakfast is served from 8-8:30am, and lunch is served from 12:15-12:45pm.
Locations are the Owatonna Area Learning Center (ALC), 338 East Main Street; McKinley Elementary, 1050 22nd St NE; and Owatonna Middle School, 500 15th Street NE. No registration is needed.
Celebrating a year of partnership and progress
By Superintendent Tammy Champa
As my first year as superintendent of Owatonna Public Schools comes to a close, I extend my sincere gratitude to our students, staff, families, community members, and School Board for the support, partnership, and trust you have shown throughout this year.
Stepping into this role has been both a privilege and a learning experience. One of the greatest gifts of this first year has been the opportunity to listen, learn, and gain a deep appreciation for the strong foundation that already exists in Owatonna Public Schools. The success we experience today is built upon the dedication, vision, and hard work of those who have served our students and community over many years. I am grateful for the opportunity to build upon that legacy.
Kyle DeKam Leadership Award
Owatonna Middle School is proud to announce the 2026 recipients for the Kyle DeKam Leadership Award: Kendall Harguth and Cassidy Justice.
Kyle DeKam was a long-time community member and public school employee. His last tenure was as principal of the then Owatonna Junior High School. Kyle lost his battle with cancer in 2012, but his legacy lives on.
This is the culminating leadership award given at OMS, recognizing students who are passionate learners, leaders and citizens. The honor symbolizes doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
School Board Election
The next School Board general election is Tuesday, November 3. Community members are encouraged to consider running for a seat. Serving on the school board is an important way to make a meaningful impact on our students, staff, and the future of our district.
To learn more about running for School Board, attend the district's "Thinking of Running for School Board" learning session on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM at the district office, 333 East School Street.
How to file to be a School Board candidate:
- Filing period: July 14-July 28, 2026
- Submit an Affidavit of Candidacy to Sarah Hoffman in the superintendent's office at the District Office, 333 East School Street
- Remember to bring a photo ID when filing as well as the $2 filing fee
- Deadline to file: 5:00 pm on Tuesday, July 28
Find more information about running for School Board on the district website.
We Are the Champions!
Our amazing Owatonna High School teams earned four Big 9 championships this spring, including Baseball, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Lacrosse, and Girls Golf! Congratulations to the student athletes and coaches!
PLUS, our Girls Golf Team earned back-to-back Section 1AAA Championships and our Boys Track and Field Team earned an impressive fifth-in-a-row 1AAA Championship!
New Payment Processing Vendor
Infinite Campus is switching payment processors for all online payment functions in the Campus Portal on July 1, 2026.
This will have no impact on how payments are processed; however, families will need to update payment methods and recurring payments after that date. Information will NOT automatically be transferred over to ensure the security and confidentiality of your data.
There are no other changes in the way you will experience online payments. Families will receive an email with instructions in July.
Standard Response Protocol: Lockdown
At Owatonna Public Schools, the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We continue to share our Standard Response Protocol, the all-hazards approach that emphasizes five clear, action-based responses: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.
The LOCKDOWN directive is activated when there is an immediate safety threat or concern within the building.
During a LOCKDOWN, specific measures are taken to secure all areas to protect students and staff.
Depending on the nature of the threat, an evacuation may also be required.
Communication about a LOCKDOWN is shared as quickly and transparently as possible to ensure awareness and maintain safety.
Watch the LOCKDOWN protocol video.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and prepared.
School Board Meetings
Watch the School Board business meeting and past meetings on YouTube. Find agendas and other information on the district website.
Upcoming School Board meetings:
- Monday, June 29 at 5:30pm - School Board Business Meeting - Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle
- Monday, July 13 at 5:30pm - School Board Business Meeting - Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle
Photo Gallery
Congratulations to the Class of 2026 - 437 students graduating from Owatonna High School, Area Learning Center (ALC) and Owatonna Online!
Our OHS seniors headed back to their elementary schools today for the annual Senior Walk-Through! The elementary students and staff loved cheering on the Class of 2026!
Area Learning Center (ALC) students participated in the annual Downtown Clean-up, working alongside local businesses to spruce up the downtown area. They were treated to lunch in Central Park afterward.
The OHS Pops Concert featured all of the ensembles at the high school singing, dancing, playing and bringing joy to all in attendance!
Owatonna Middle School Stride Gardeners have been hard at work preparing garden beds, planting marigolds and vegetables seeds, watering, weeding, and caring for their plants.
OHS REACH (Relationships, Education, Accountability, Character, Hard Work) students did their OutREACH Service Day. Students volunteered at Community Pathways, picked up litter at Brown Park and Owatonna High School, and played bingo with residents at CountrySide senior living.
Upcoming Dates
- Friday, June 5 - Teacher work day
- Friday, June 5 at 7pm - OHS Graduation on Federated Field (rain date is Sunday, June 7 at 7pm)
- Friday, June 19 - Juneteenth, district closed
Contact Information
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@Owatonna761
More Information
Nondiscrimination Policy
Owatonna Public Schools is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all students and staff and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, in its programs and activities, as required by Title IX and MN Human Rights Act (MHRA). This includes prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and unequal access to extracurricular activities.
Any concerns related to Title IX should be reported to Chris Picha, Director of Human Resources & Title IX Coordinator, at 507-444-8602 or cpicha@isd761.org.
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