Owatonna School Year Off to a Great Start

Superintendent Jeff Elstad is happy with how the school year has started in Owatonna. In the school district's periodic email newsletter, he says, "It is hard to believe that we are nearly through the first month of school. I want to thank all of you for your patience and support as we are nearing the end of our construction projects." He states that projects at the middle school and McKinley should be complete by mid-October and work at Washington and Lincoln should wrap up in mid-December.

He invites the public to a community open house Monday October 30 from 4-8PM at the middle school and McKinley Elementary, which is formerly Willow Creek. A short ceremony will be held at McKinley at 5PM and at the middle school at 6:30PM.

Elstad indicates there has been great reaction to the offer of free activity tickets for senior citizens. In August the school board voted to provide free tickets to anyone age 62 or older. "This offer was extended as a thank you to our longtime residents who have attended our activities for years and have actively supported our students. On any given year, the OHS activities office would sell nearly 200 activity passes to our residents over 62. As of mid-September, we have provided over 600 free activity passes." Fans who qualify and haven't picked up a ticket yet, can contact the district office for more information at 507-444-810.

Elstad points out the school board also voted over the summer to move up the time of their meetings in order to be able to attend school activities on the night of board meetings. Work sessions and regular meetings now start at 5:30PM.

The newsletter also reports that the annual truth in taxation meeting is set for Monday, December 18 at 6PM at the district office at 515 West Bridge Street.