Owatonna Public Schools

Owatonna High School students have been hard at work preparing for this year's musical, “Les Misérables.”

Dates:

• February 26-28, 7:00pm

• March 1, 1:30pm

• March 5-7, 7:00pm

Purchase tickets through the GoFan app or visit owatonnaactivities.com to view the parental discretion advisory and for more information.

Superintendent Tammy Champa recognized five of our exceptional Owatonna High School students for the February Mission Moment at the recent School Board meeting.

Congratulations to:

• Ava Cox and Lowell Schultz, OHS juniors, who were nominated for the Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Award. Both were also selected as state-level winners and will be honored in March.
• Will Halverson and Lucy Jacobs, OHS seniors, who were nominated for the Minnesota State High School League Academics, Arts and Athletics Award (Triple A). Will was also selected as the Region 1AA male nominee, one of eight male finalists at the state level. Statewide winners will be announced in March.
• Ayoub Farah, OHS senior, who was selected as one of two Minnesota representatives for the United States Senate Youth Program. He will spend March 7-14 in Washington DC for an intensive study of the federal government and the people who lead it.

The 2026 Spring/Summer Community Ed brochure is in the mail!

Check out all of the great options for trips, tours, classes and camps for both youth and adults.

Register here beginning March 9.

At Owatonna Public Schools, we are committed to being transparent with our families and community as we plan for the future of our district.

Following the November levy vote and in response to elementary enrollment projections, our district has completed a careful review of the 2026-2027 budget, identifying more than $3.7 million in budget reductions. Every effort was made to minimize the impact on student learning and the supports our students rely on each day.

As part of these adjustments, some difficult staffing decisions were required. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and contributions of the staff members affected by these changes. Their work has made a meaningful difference for our students and schools.

A summary of the adjustments is included above.

We are thankful for the continued partnership of our families, staff, and community. We remain focused on moving forward together, providing each and every student with a high-quality education and the opportunities they need to thrive.

The United Way of Steele County's Teen Center is ready to open its doors! The public is invited to an Open House on Sunday, March 1 from 3-6pm (285 SE 18th St. - Owatonna).

Opening Monday, March 2:

• 3-7pm Monday–Friday
• 10am-2pm Saturdays

The Teen Center welcomes all local middle and high school youth to this safe, fun, and supportive space.

Congratulations to the OHS gymnastics team who persevered through many injuries to become Section 1AA Champions and Class AA State Runner-up. A great display of teamwork, resilience and determination!

How do you decide when to get your child a cell phone? Read the perspective of Dr. Cassidy Swinney, a high school English teacher at Jackson Academy in Mississippi.

When Everyone Else is Scrolling: Why I’m Delaying Smartphones for My Daughters

Delaying smartphones and social media protects children’s mental health, attention, and development.

Watch the School Board business meeting and previous meetings on YouTube. Find agendas and other information on the district website.

Upcoming School Board meetings:

• Monday, March 9 at 5:30pm - School Board Work Session - District Office, 333 East School Street
• Monday, March 23 at 5:30pm - School Board Business Meeting - Charles S Crandall Center, 540 W Hills Circle

Congratulations to the Owatonna High School Mock Trial team on qualifying for the state competition at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and US Courthouse in St. Paul, March 5-6.

Several Owatonna middle and high school orchestra students participated in the Middle Level Honors All-state Orchestra! They rehearsed at Northwestern College for over 9 hours and worked with conductor Sarah Finn Somerfeld, Orchestra Director in Minnetonka. Congratulations to Ben Bellefeuille, Cassidy Justice, Kira Duneman and Zurie Tolle, who auditioned in November along with over 100 students for a spot in the ensemble.

Students had Presidents Day off, but staff development took place across the district, including CPR and first aid recertification plus READ Act training, Wit & Wisdom curriculum study, work on math and secondary standards, and much more!

Select students from Owatonna Middle School traveled to Bethany Lutheran College recently to

prepare and perform with the Bethany Honors Orchestra. Over 120 musicians from across southern Minnesota came together for the one-day experience, a celebration of the musicians’ hard work and

dedication!

• February 26-March 1 - OHS Musical "Les Misérables"
• Thursday, March 5 from 3-6:30pm - Owatonna Middle School Conferences
• March 5-7 - OHS Musical "Les Misérables"
• Thursday, March 26 - End of third quarter
• Friday, March 27 - Teacher Work Day
• March 30-April 3 - Spring Break

Our Schools

Owatonna Bus Company

Nutrition Services

Health Services

Enrollment Office

Community Education

Technology

Celebrate our students, our staff and our schools by following us on social media. If you like what you see, be sure to share it with others. Together, we are #OwatonnaProud!

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@Owatonna761

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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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