isd 761 education edition 2015

Education EditionVolume 14, Issue 1 Independent School District No. 761 August 26, 2015

Dear parents and students of ISD 761,

I would like to welcome our stu-dents, parents and sta� to the 2015-16 school year. Each school year brings the anticipation of new opportunities for our students and teachers. A great deal of time and e�ort was spent during the summer months with teachers work-ing on curriculum and establishing common assessments for grade levels or subject content areas. �ese e�orts will provide better instructional prac-tices for our teachers and better ways to measure our students’ performances in the classroom.

�is coming school year begins with an exciting opportunity to address fa-cility needs and the solutions presented to the School Board by the Task Force Committee. I hope you all have had a chance to follow along as the commit-tee provided recommendations to the Board for consideration to be brought to the voters of the District. On the Dis-trict’s website is a “task force” tab that you can review all the meetings and information the committee looked over and worked on.

The recommendation the Board approved addresses school building

security and safety improvements; im-proving capacity issues with buildings; changing Willow Creek to a kinder-garten through ��h grade school and moving grade six to OJHS; and working on many deferred maintenance issues that have accrued over several years. �e grand total of the recommendation is $77.9 million which will be brought to the voters for a November 3, 2015 election. �ere will be public forums provided for the community to gather information to help you understand the recommendations and answer any questions you may have. �ose dates and times will be published soon.

�is new school year brings about

many new faces working in our class-rooms and buildings. Each year it is di�cult to have people retire or move on and then replace them. We feel very fortunate to have hired some great new talent for our classrooms or to provide support for our teachers. We look for-ward to having these new employees bring their experiences to our schools and to help us improve.

School will begin on Tuesday, Sep-tember 8, 2015. We anticipate a stu-dent enrollment of 4,900 entering our schools. As you start to prepare your students for another school year, re-member that the �rst week can be quite hectic. You will be getting your family schedules re-aligned and we will be do-ing everything we can to help make that �rst week be successful. Look for bus schedules coming to your home if your child will be riding a school bus. Be sure your child knows the safest walkway to their school. Being safe at crosswalks to and from school is critical.

Please work with us to help provide the best education we can for your chil-dren. We cannot do it alone as we need your help for this to be a successful year.

Submitted by Peter Grant, Superin-tendent

A welcome from the superintendent

Peter Grant

To go to school in Minnesota, students must show they’ve received immunization against a number of diseases or �le a legal exemption with the school. Documentation of immunization or exemption must be submitted to the school before school begins on September 8th.

Required Immunizations:

Kindergarten-Age 6: 5 doses of DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B and 2 Varicella (chickenpox vaccine)

Age 7-6th Grade: At least 3 doses of diphtheria and tetanus, 3 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B and 2 Varicella (chickenpox vaccine)

7th-8th Grade: At least 3 doses of diphtheria and tetanus (including 1 Tdap), 3 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B, 2 Varicella (chickenpox vaccine) and 1

Meningococcal9th-12th Grade: At least 3

doses of diphtheria and tetanus (including 1 Td/Tdap), 3 Polio, 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B and 2 Varicella (chickenpox vaccine)

ImmunizationsSchool

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Education EditionAugust 2015

A special project ofthe Owatonna People’s Press

135 W. Pearl St., Owatonna, MN 55060www.owatonna.com

PublisherRon Ensley

Advertising DirectorDebbie Ensley

Managing EditorJe� rey Jackson

Page DesignTony Borreson

Media ConsultantsAlisha Davidson, Per Kvalsten,

Jay Petsche, Jennifer Sorensen, Lori Wagner

Advertising DesignLauren Barber, Nikkie Gilmore,

Keeley Krebsbach, Jenine Kubista, Kelly Kubista

Education Edition 2015 is distributed to the subscribers and readers of the Owatonna People’s Press at no additional charge.

All rights reserved. ©2015

The Owatonna School District is committed to having a positive learning and working environment for students and employees and prohibits harassment or violence by or against students or employees on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or disability. The school district encourages students, parents and employees to work together to prevent acts of harassment of any kind as well. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of harassment or violence or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute harassment or violence should report the alleged acts immediately to the building principal or to the school district’s human rights o� cer(s).

Director of Human ResourcesDirector of Special Services515 W. Bridge St.Owatonna, MN [email protected] school district takes such matters

very seriously and will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of reports of harassment. Students or employees who engage in harassment in violation of the school district’s policies will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion/exclusion or termination of employment. A complete copy of school district Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence) may be found on the district website: www.owatonna.k12.mn.us or may be obtained at the District O� ce.

District Harassment Policy

All Elementary Schools: 8:00-2:30Willow Creek: 8:10-2:40Owatonna Junior High School: 8:15-3:00Owatonna High School: 8:00-2:30Owatonna Alternative Learning Center: 8:00-2:30

School Hours

Thursday, August 27, 2015 OWATONNA SCHOOL DISTRICT PAGE 3

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP

STEELE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH507-444-7650

Steele County Public Health Nursing Service

Child & TeenCheckups Program

with transportation, interpreters or making an appointment for dentist or doctors visit call Christine

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• SouthCountryHealthAlliance•BluePlus

Child and Teen Checkups are available to children from birth through age 20 who are

covered by Minnesota state health plans such as:

Call your clinic to schedule an appointment

For optimal performance on the court and in school, make sure to:

Need shots? You can also call Steele County Public Health

Give your children regular Child and TeenCheckups at your clinic and dentist.

August 24-27New Teacher WorkshopAugust 31-September 3Teacher Work DaysSeptember 3Home/Child/School DaySeptember 7Labor Day/School District ClosedSeptember 8First Day of School, Grades 1-12October 5OHS ConferencesOctober 6ALC ConferencesOctober 8OJHS ConferencesOctober 12-14Grades K-6 ConferencesOctober 13OJHS ConferencesOctober 15-16Ed. MN Conference/No SchoolNovember 6End of First Quarter at OHSNovember 9No School K-12/Teacher Work/Sta� Dev. DayNovember 25No School K-12/PLC Sta� Develop-

ment DayNovember 26-27� anksgiving Break/District ClosedDecember 3End of First TrimesterDecember 4No School K-8/Teacher Work DayDecember 7OHS ConferencesDecember 8ALC ConferencesDecember 24-January 1Winter Break/No SchoolJanuary 18No School/MLK Day/Sta� Devel-opmentJanuary 22End of Second Quarter at OHSJanuary 25No School 9-12/Teacher Work DayFebruary 2, 4Grades K-6 ConferencesFebruary 5No School, Grades K-6, Confer-encesFebruary 11OJHS ConferencesFebruary 22OHS Conferences

February 23ALC ConferencesMarch 4End of Second TrimesterMarch 7No School K-8/Teacher Work DayMarch 24End of � ird QuarterMarch 25-April 1Spring Break/No SchoolApril 4No School 9-12/Teacher Work DayApril 14OJHS ConferencesMay 2OHS ConferencesMay 3ALC ConferencesMay 30Memorial Day/School District ClosedJune 8Last Student DayJune 9Teacher Work DayJune 10PLC Sta� Development DayJune 12Graduation

Across the DistrictOwatonna Public Schools 2015-2016 Calendar

JULY AUGUST August 24-27 .......................... New Teacher Workshop August 31-September 3 ................. Teacher Work Days September 3 ........................... Home/Child/School Day September 7 ............. Labor Day/School District Closed September 8 .............. First Day of School, Grades 1-12 October 5 .......................................... OHS Conferences October 6 ........................................... ALC Conferences October 8 ......................................... OJHS Conferences October 12-14 ......................... Grades K-6 Conferences October 13 ....................................... OJHS Conferences October 15-16 .............. Ed. MN Conference/No School November 6 ....................... End of First Quarter at OHS Nov. 9 .... No School K-12/Teacher Work/Staff Dev. Day November 25 ...................................... No School K-12/ .......................................... PLC Staff Development Day Nov. 26 & 27 .......... Thanksgiving Break/District Closed December 3 ................................ End of First Trimester December 4 ............. No School K-8/Teacher Work Day December 7 ...................................... OHS Conferences December 8 ....................................... ALC Conferences Dec.24-Jan.1 .......................... Winter Break/No School Jan. 18 ............ No School/MLK Day/Staff Development January 22 ..................... End of Second Quarter at OHS January 25 .............. No School 9-12/Teacher Work Day February 2, 4 ........................... Grades K-6 Conferences February 5 ............ No School, Grades K-6, Conferences February 11 ...................................... OJHS Conferences February 22 ....................................... OHS Conferences February 23 ........................................ ALC Conferences March 4 .................................. End of Second Trimester March 7 .................... No School K-8/Teacher Work Day March 24 ...................................... End of Third Quarter March 25-April 1 ..................... Spring Break/No School April 4 ..................... No School 9-12/Teacher Work Day April 14............................................. OJHS Conferences May 2 ................................................ OHS Conferences May 3 ................................................. ALC Conferences May 30 ............... Memorial Day/School District Closed June 8 ................................................. Last Student Day June 9 ............................................... Teacher Work Day June 10 .............................. PLC Staff Development Day June 12 ........................................................ Graduation School Not in Session School Not in Session K-6

School Not in Session K-8 School Not in Session 9-12 School District Closed – Designated Holiday

m t w th f s s m t w th f s 1 2 3 4 1

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER s m t w th f s s m t w th f s 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER DECEMBER s m t w th f s s m t w th f s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 27 28 29 30 31

JANUARY FEBRUARY s m t w th f s s m t w th f s 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 31

MARCH APRIL s m t w th f s s m t w th f s 1 2 3 4 5 1 2

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAY JUNE s m t w th f s s m t w th f s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30

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Across the DistrictOwatonna High School 444-8800Mark Randall, PrincipalCheryl Summer, Principal’s SecretaryJe� Miller, Assistant PrincipalNicole Adams, Assistant PrincipalRyan Swanson, Activities Director 444-8989Rene Olson, Activities Secretary 444-8988Owatonna Alternative Learning Center 444-8000Melodee Ho�ner, Assistant PrincipalKim Gaalswyk, Secretary

Lincoln Elementary School 444-8100Mary Hawkins, PrincipalSara Klecker, Principal’s Secretary

McKinley Elementary School 444-8200Justin Kiel, PrincipalLorri Harrison, Principal’s Secretary

Washington Elementary School 444-8300Beth Svenby, PrincipalTricia Fisher, Principal’s Secretary

Wilson Elementary School 444-8400Julie Sullivan, PrincipalNancy Benson, Principal’s Secretary

Willow Creek School 444-8500Jim Kiefer, PrincipalSusan Peterson, Principal’s Secretary

Owatonna Jr. High School 444-8700Jason Hunt, PrincipalWendy Cirksena, Assistant PrincipalPam Krenke, Principal’s Secretary

Roosevelt Community School 444-7900Deb McDermott-Johnson, Director 444-7901Deb Karaus, Adult & Family Enrichment 444-7921Betsy Wilker, CE Program Specialist 444-7922Sean Hughes, Youth Programs Coordinator 444-7923Renee Compton, EC Team Leader 444-7926Kids First Activity Line 444-7905Kim Reyant, Adult Learning Center 444-7925

District O�ce 444-8600Peter Grant, Superintendent 444-8601Amy LaDue, Director of Teaching & Learning 444-8603Chris Picha, Director of Human Resources 444-8612Tom Sager, Director of Operations & Finance 444-8615Mark Krug, Director of Special Services 444-8614Shari Mensink, Special Services Coordinator 444-7801Sarah McGuire, Special Services Coordinator 444-8800Mike Halverson, Director of Information Tech. 444-8609Rachel Valesano, Director of Food Services 444-8607Bob Olson, Director of Facilities & Infrastructure 444-8606Nancy Brandel, Health Services Coordinator 444-8804

Numbers to knowTransportation is provided by the Owatonna Bus Company.All students eligible for transportation and those who have arranged for transportation with a

private contract will receive a letter in the mail the week before school starts.Any parent with daycare information, even if the daycare has stayed the same from the previous

year, needs to contact the bus company immediately.The times for pickup and drop-o� of students in the letter is approximate. Please be patient and

�exible for the �rst couple of weeks until everything settles down into a routine.We look forward to transporting the students of Owatonna to and from school this coming school

year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at the Owatonna Bus Company.The phone number is 451-5262.

Student transportation

RULES OF THE ROADSafety Procedures:1. Student will be at bus stop on time.2. Student will wait for bus o� roadway.3. Student will cross road only in front of bus.4. Student will never use the emergency door except in case of physical emergency or when directed by the driver.Student Rules:1. Student will obey the bus driver at all times.2. Student will sit where directed by the driver.3. Student is expected to be at the bus stop on time and display proper conduct at the bus stop.4. Student will keep head and arms inside bus at all times.

5. Student will not use profane or vulgar language.6. Student will not throw things.7. Student will not litter bus.8. Student will not shout out of the bus or in the bus.9. Student will not mark with any pen, pencil or marking device on the bus interior or exterior.10. Student will be held �nancially responsible for any damage done deliberately or through rowdiness.11. Student will report any damage at once to the driver.12. Student not following these rules is subject to suspension from the bus.


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Across the DistrictAcross the District

The Owatonna Public School’s Special Services has three programs for students that have challenges to learn-ing: Special Education, Title, and English Language Learners.

Special Education services are provided to over 600 stu-dents, birth to the age of 21. Students qualify for special education in one or more of 14 di� erent educational dis-abilities. Students qualifying for special education receive specialized instruction that will allow them to make prog-ress in the general curriculum. � is support is provided by a special education teacher or a related services specialist such as Speech/Language Patholo-

gist, Occupational � erapist or Physical � erapist. In ad-dition to licensed sta� , Para-professionals support the learner by providing behav-ioral and academic support to students in the general education and special edu-cation classrooms. Special Education is a partnership and decisions about the stu-dent’s program are made by the parents, school profes-sionals, and other providers working together.

Students need to qualify for Special Education and must go through an evalua-tion to determine eligibility. � e District has been work-ing to implement a Multiple Tiered System of Supports to provide academic and be-havioral support to students within the general education classroom prior to making a referral for evaluation. � is tiered system of support focuses on differentiating instruction based on stu-dent need, taking frequent informal measures of the ef-

fectiveness of the intervention and having a team of teach-ers reviewing student perfor-mance data to make informed decisions on student program-ming. If a student continues to not make progress within the general curriculum despite the interventions, then a referral for evaluation may be made.

In addition to the services for our Kindergarten through grade 12 students, Special Ed-ucation Services are provided for children birth through 5 years old (also known as “Early Childhood Special Education” or “ECSE”) and for students 18 to 21 years old (also known as “Transition Plus”).

Early Childhood Special Education services are divid-ed into two age groups: Birth through two years old and three to five years old. The emphasis for birth to two is on assisting parents and care providers with tips and tools to address early developmen-tal needs. Special Education Teachers and Related Services Support sta� typically go to the child’s home and work with parents on how to use daily routines and toys in the home to promote the language, mo-tor, and cognitive development of their child.

The services for students aged three through � ve years old are provided in a variety of settings: home, day care (pri-vate and home-based), and school. Whereas the emphasis in the birth to two services was working with parents, for three to � ve, the teachers work di-rectly with the child to address areas of concern and need. Much time and energy is di-rected toward getting the child school ready and working on both pre-academic skills and

social skills that are necessary for success in school.

At the other end of the spe-cialized instruction services spectrum is programming for students ages 18 to 21 who continue to have special edu-cation needs. While many of our students graduate at 18 (or the end of 12th grade) a small percentage of our students continue to have needs that require specialized instruc-tion and support. � ese stu-dents are in are served in the community, at OHS (in the Ag Building) or at supported adult work centers. We are excited to add a transitional skills assess-ment lab to our programming at the high school. � is addi-tional resource will assist our teachers in better identifying and supporting the job skills and needed training for our students.

Title services are provided to learners who are struggling within the general education classroom and are in need of additional intensive support, usually for a short period of time. These students do not necessarily qualify for special-ized instruction but are in need of more intensive instructional support. Students usually re-ceive their Title services in a small group setting that might be within the classroom or in another room. Students’ eligi-bility for title services is based upon a variety of sources such as performance on standard-ized tests, teacher observa-tions, and parental consent. Title services are available to students in schools with Free and Reduced populations greater than the district aver-age (currently 41 percent of our students, district-wide, qualify for free or reduced

lunch).English Language Learners

are students whose � rst lan-guage might not be English or whose exposure to English has been limited. Student eligibil-ity is determined by multiple measures, including perfor-mance on a standardized as-sessment of the English lan-guage, classroom observation, teacher judgment, parental in-put and other developmentally appropriate assessments. � e emphasis of instruction is on learning “academic English” or the words that assist students in the classroom. Students are eligible for services until they are able to demonstrate pro� -ciency on a nationally normed

assessment.All three programs have

parent advisory groups. For special education, there is a district-wide Special Educa-tion Advisory committee com-prised of parents, special ed and regular ed teachers, and interested community mem-bers. This committee meets two times per year with the Special Education District Ad-ministration to provide input on programming and issues facing the department.

Title I parental involvement is primarily at the local school, though there is a district-wide committee that meets twice per year to provide consulta-tion and feedback to school

and district administration.Parents of EL students

have regular meetings at the neighborhood school. Topics include how to support home-work, how to access commu-nity resources, and how to best support their child’s learning. � ere is a district-wide com-mittee that meets twice per year to advise district adminis-tration on policy and program-ming concerns.

Parents having questions about the supportive services available to their child or to become involved with the ad-visory groups should contact their child’s building principal or the District’s Special Servic-es o� ce at 507-444-8614.

Owatonna public schools special services


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Infinite Campus is the Owatonna Public School student management system as well as a tool for parents and students to access timely individual student information. We encourage parents to use this program as one way to stay current on their child’s school information.

The system is for students in grades kinder-garten–12, however, the type of information will vary depending on your child’s grade level. Information for students in kindergarten–third grade includes attendance, immunizations, school calendar, and contact information. In upper grades, this information also include grades, report cards, transcripts and assign-ments.

If you have already registered for Infinite Campus Parent Portal, you do not need to reg-ister each school year. It is important, however, for parents to log-in annually to verify contact information such as phone numbers and emer-gency contacts to ensure they are up to date. The phone numbers listed in Infinite Campus are the ones that are used for the district mes-senger system, which is used to call parents when there are school closings, emergency situ-ations, or other important reminders. Follow the steps in the parent portal to update your information. Once completed you will receive a notice confirming your changes.

If you have not registered for an account or are new to our district, you can go to your child’s school office to set up your account. To set up an account, parents need to provide a photo identification.

There is an Infinite Campus app that par-ents with accounts can download for iPhones or android phones. Directions are available through the District website, www.owatonna.k12.mn.us. Once at the website select the info and links tab, infinite campus portal and follow the directions on the front page.

Across the DistrictParents encouraged to update contact information

Pursuant to applicable law, Independent School Dis-trict No. 761 gives notice to parents of students currently in attendance in the school district, and eligible students

currently in attendance in the school district, of their rights regarding “directory information.”

“Directory information” includes the following infor-mation relating to a student: the student’s name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; grade level;

participation in o� cially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; degrees, and honors and awards received. “Directory information” also includes the name, address and telephone number of the student’s parent(s). “Directory information” does not include identifying information on a student’s religion,

race, color, social position or nationality.(Student photographs are not directory information,

but are published annually in the school year book.)� e information listed above shall be public infor-

mation which the school district may disclose from the education records of a student or information regarding

a parent.Should the parent of a student or the student so

desire, any or all of the listed information will not be disclosed without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior

written consent except to school o� cials as provided under federal law.

In order to make any or all of the directory infor-mation listed above “private” (i.e. subject to consent

prior to disclosure), the parent or eligible student must make a written request to the building principal within thirty (30) days a� er the date of the publication of this notice. � is written request must include the following

information:Name of student and parent, as appropriate.

Home address.School presently attended by student.

Parent’s legal relationship to student, if applicable.Speci� c category or categories of directory informa-

tion which is not to be made public without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior written consent.

Public notice regarding protection, privacy of pupil records


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Across the District

Pursuant to applicable law, Independent School Dis-trict No. 761 gives notice to parents of students currently in attendance in the school district, and eligible students

currently in attendance in the school district, of their rights regarding “directory information.”

“Directory information” includes the following infor-mation relating to a student: the student’s name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; grade level;

participation in o� cially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; degrees, and honors and awards received. “Directory information” also includes the name, address and telephone number of the student’s parent(s). “Directory information” does not include identifying information on a student’s religion,

race, color, social position or nationality.(Student photographs are not directory information,

but are published annually in the school year book.)� e information listed above shall be public infor-

mation which the school district may disclose from the education records of a student or information regarding

a parent.Should the parent of a student or the student so

desire, any or all of the listed information will not be disclosed without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior

written consent except to school o� cials as provided under federal law.

In order to make any or all of the directory infor-mation listed above “private” (i.e. subject to consent

prior to disclosure), the parent or eligible student must make a written request to the building principal within thirty (30) days a� er the date of the publication of this notice. � is written request must include the following

information:Name of student and parent, as appropriate.

Home address.School presently attended by student.

Parent’s legal relationship to student, if applicable.Speci� c category or categories of directory informa-

tion which is not to be made public without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior written consent.

Public notice regarding protection, privacy of pupil records

Students will be returning to school soon and the Food & Nutrition Servic-es Department is ready to serve them healthy and nutritious meals to help them be at their best in the classroom! We plan to continue our focus of serving up lots of fruits and vegetables to our students along with more scratch cooking in our kitchens.

Food & Nutrition Services wishes the best to all of our students as the new school year begins. Our sole purpose is to keep our customers happy and healthy, and we want students’ bodies and minds

to have the energy needed to feel and perform their best.Application for meal bene� ts

New this school year: you can now � ll out your Free & Reduced Meal Applica-tion online at www.owatonna.k12.mn.us/page/2463. � is process is safe, secure, and available at any time of the day! For more information or to request a paper form, please call 507-444-8616.Student meal prices

All kindergarten students receive breakfast at no-charge.

All free and reduced-pay students receive breakfast and lunch meals at no-charge.

Elementary, Willow Creek and OJHS full pay breakfast price is $1.25 and OHS is $1.40.

Elementary full pay lunch price is $2.40, Willow Creek and OJHS are $2.45 and OHS is $2.55.Do you have special dietary concern for your child?

Please check out our website at www.owatonna.k12.mn.us for the necessary

forms you will need to have filled out and returned to the Food & Nutrition Services Department. New forms need to be completed each school year and returned prior to the start of school. If you need forms mailed to you, or you have questions about special diets, please call Ali at 507-444-8629.Managing meal accounts

Do you ever wonder what your child’s meal account balance is or what items they are purchasing on any given day? Be sure to register on mypay-mentsplus.com to see account history,

make payments and manage email no-ti� cations that can alert you when your child’s meal account balance is getting low. For more information on this or if you have any other questions about Food & Nutrition Services, please call 507-444-8616.

Be sure to check out our Food & Nu-trition Services area on the district web-site at www.owatonna.k12.mn.us for a wealth of information on our program at your � ngertips.

USDA is an equal opportunity pro-vider and employer.

Owatonna public schools food and nutrition services kicks o� another great school year


Adult Learning Center Opens for Registration on Aug. 24th

The Adult Learning Center is for adults to receive personal and confidential attention to their educational needs. Instruc-tion is o�ered in the subject areas of reading, writing, vocabulary, English, spelling, math, ESL, ca-reer and college readiness, on-line learning and preparation for work and a transitioning into a job search. �e Adult Learning Center is located in the Roosevelt Community School. Adults can choose between traditional class formats, small group, individual tutoring or learning in our state-of-the-art computer lab. A variety of web-based so�ware is available for community use both in the Center and at home.

Many classes this fall will be new or reformatted in our class schedule. New class schedules will be mailed to all current and for-mer students. New students are welcome to stop into the Adult Learning Center at Roosevelt Community School to pick-up a class schedule, or call Kim at 444-7925 to have a schedule mailed. Advance registration for Adult Learning Center classes is recom-mended to ensure a seat.

The Adult Learning Center will welcome new sta� this year. ABE Teacher Cathy Quam retired

from classroom service this past summer. Jessica Monson will assume a new role as an ABE teacher, working mostly closely with the adult English language learners. Patricia Wieseler has ac-cepted a new position as the ABE Program Specialist. Among her many duties, she will provide nav-igation services for adult students looking for assistance in meeting their educational and work-tran-sition goals. She will provide for students an interagency network and help work closely with them to access services important to their future. Pat can be reached by calling the Adult Learning Center at 444-7925.

The Adult Learning Center has acquired two new grants to provide improved and broader adult learning services. High In-termediate and Advanced Eng-lish language learners will bene�t from a new Transition to Career and College curriculum, custom-ized to individual learners. Last year the Center piloted a ParaPro program for individuals inter-ested in working as classroom assistants and paraprofessionals in area schools and children’s cen-ters. �e program was awarded a state Pathways to Progress grant recently, allowing the program to be replicated in Austin, Albert Lea and again in Owatonna. Adults interested in learning more about this program can network with

Kim in the Adult Learning Center, 444-7925.

Adult Learning Center ser-vices are free of charge. Anyone interested in growing their basic academic skills for career ad-vancement, transitioning to work or a college program will find value in Adult Learning Center services.

Classes begin on Sept. 14.GED Preparation and Testing

Services Available in the Adult Learning Center

Adults needing to complete their GED can prepare and test at Roosevelt Community School. Call 444-7925 to receive a copy of the fall class and testing schedule.Early Childhood Screening Available

Appointments are now being accepted for families with chil-dren ages three-�ve. Early Child-hood screening is mandated by the State of Minnesota prior to public school kindergarten en-try. �e purpose is to con�rm for families that their child is devel-oping normally and ready for the school experience.

Families with children be-tween the ages of three-�ve will alphabetically receive a post card notice to schedule an appoint-ment. Families may also call 444-7900 to schedule an appoint-ment at any time. Screenings are held Thursday afternoons and

evenings, with one Saturday morning a month available for appointments. Screenings take approximately an hour to com-plete.

Families new to Owatonna with a kindergarten student who has not previously been screened, can call Community Education right now to get their child’s

screening completed. Appoint-ments �ll quickly, so call today!

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Owatonna Community Education Fall Community Education brochures to mail Sept. 1

Fall Community Education brochures will be placed in the US Mail Service on Sept. 1 and will be delivered to every house-hold within the Owatonna school district. On-line registration for adults and youth programs will begin on Sept. 2 at 6 a.m. On-line registration at www.owaton-nacommunityed.org is a fast and e� cient way to get registered for the classes you want. Many classes begin the week of Sept.21 with several others, including trips and workshops scheduled throughout the months of October, Novem-ber and December. Most offer-ings have a limited number of slots available, so register early! Registration is on-going until all class seats are � lled. As soon as a brochure copy is ready for view-ing, it will be posted to the com-munity education website listed above. Check back often for a preview of special programs and events planned with you and your family in mind!

Families not receiving a fall program publication are encour-aged to call Community Educa-tion at 444-7900 to have a copy sent. Copies are also available at Roosevelt Community School, Owatonna Public Schools Dis-trict Office, and the Owatonna Public Library for pick-up.

Call 444-7900 with questions or assistance in completing regis-tration for all Community Educa-tion learning opportunities. We are happy to help in any way we can!Preschool learning for children up to age � ve

The Early Childhood bro-chure featuring parent and child together learning opportunities will be direct mailed to families with children up to � ve years of age. Brochures will mail the week of Aug. 17. Registration begins on Aug. 26. � e on-line registration feature is now available for ECFE Registrations and will go live on Aug. 26 at 8 a.m. Families are also welcome to call 444-7900 begin-ning at 8 a.m. on Aug. 26, or stop by Roosevelt Community School with your registration requests.

Registration for early child-hood programs remains open until class slots are � lled. Fami-lies are encouraged to select the waiting list option if preferred classes are full. New class o� er-ings will be built for those classes with full waiting lists as space and instructors are available. Fall par-ent/child and child-only classes begin Sept. 14.Kids First/OJHS athletics

Owatonna Community Edu-cation is pleased to announce their continuing support for OJHS KIDS FIRST Athletics. � e Fall Sports Parent/Athlete Meet-ing is scheduled for Aug. 24 at

7 p.m. at OJHS.Practice for seventh and

eighth grade Football begins on Aug. 24. All other sports will begin practice on Aug. 31. For more information on the Kids First Athletic Program, contact Sean Hughes, Youth Coordina-tor with Owatonna Community Education. Phone 444-7923. Coaches are still needed. Please check the school district website for employment opportunities, or contact Sean Hughes at 444-7923.

A reminder to families, Kids First will no longer be a part of the district activities fee cap. A schol-arship program is available to any family requesting assistance with the activity fee. Information will be available at all of this year’s Parent/Athlete meetings about the scholarship opportunities, or check our website for updates.

� e following web links will provide families with valuable updates on Kids First Athletic programs: www.owatonnacom-munityed.org click on Kids First/OJHS Athletics tab or www.owa-tonna.k12.mn.us click on OJHS link. Fall game schedules can be downloaded at www.big9.org En-rollment for fall sport participa-tion is available on line at http://owatonna.feepay.com. To register for fall sports, parents will need their student’s ID number and a current MSHSL physical. � e sys-tem will alert families if the cur-rent physical on � le for a student needs updating.

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I hope this article � nds you en-joying your summer. Along with our sta� , I would like to welcome you to the Owatonna Alternative Learning Center (OALC). The OALC is a program for students who are in need of a different learning option rather than the traditional high school setting. If you feel your student needs a smaller environment, more indi-vidualized help, or access to digi-tal curriculum to recover credits, the OALC may be a program that will meet your student’s needs. Our students graduate with an Owatonna High School Diplo-ma and are required to pass the same testing requirements as the students in the traditional high school setting.

We are excited to share some new building initiatives. � e � rst is the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework. � is is an approach for helping schools select and or-ganize evidence-based behavioral interventions to improve academ-ic and social behavior outcomes for all students. We applied and were selected to participate in a two year training through the Minnesota Department of Educa-tion and successfully completed our first training session this month. Additionally, in an e� ort to improve access, rigor and aca-demic support, our sta� will be introducing a Blending Learning Format over the next two years. � is educational design will pro-vide both face-to-face learning and digital instruction.

Students who attend the OALC have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in high school activities and sports. � e OALC and Owatonna High School (OHS) work closely to-gether to provide the best edu-cational supports and, when possible, partial OHS and OALC schedules are also available for students. In addition, the OALC

has student leadership opportuni-ties with our MAAP STARS (Min-nesota Association of Alternative Programs) organization led by Don Hettinga, our Social Stud-ies teacher. We are excited to have additional onsite support with our new Professional School Coun-selor, Marshall Kading. We also have a full time Licensed Social Worker, Chely Flores, available as a valuable resource for parents and students.

We offer core courses, a va-riety of specialized classes such as Physical Education and digital curriculum through Odyssey-ware. Odysseyware has multiple learning levels, ranging from foundational to honors classes and provides several credit recov-ery options. We have an interven-tion period, Check and Connect, where we focus on providing support in students’ Career, Aca-demic and Personal/Social skills. The OALC continues to build on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly E� ective People to guide behavior and decision making for both students and sta� .

The Owatonna Alternative Learning Center may be the option you’re looking for and we welcome the opportunity to visit with you and your student. Please join us for our Open House, Tuesday Sept. 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at 130 E. Vine St., 6 p.m. Blended Learning Ori-entation Meeting, Owatonna for more information. Refreshments and snacks will be served.

If you are an Owatonna High School student, you may attend the Open House to � ll out OALC paperwork. Please attend the Open House if you are currently an OALC student to complete your 2015-16 paperwork and to receive your class schedule. For all other enrollment questions, con-tact the Owatonna Schools En-rollment O� ce at 507-444-7900.

The entire Owatonna Alter-native Learning Center sta� are committed to building relation-ships, facilitating student commu-

nity service, creating an environ-ment based on respect and trust and focusing on student growth. We strongly feel that all students have value and can succeed. We look forward to partnering with the community, parents and stu-dents for the 2015-16 school year!

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Elementary

RegistrationIf you recently moved to the com-

munity, students in all grades register at Roosevelt Community School located at 122 E McKinley Street. Appointments can be made by calling (507)444-7900. Due to high enrollment at some schools in certain grade levels, we will not be able to honor all enrollments in boundary-de� ned schools. � e main o� ce line for each school is listed below.

If your family has moved within the community, please notify the district o� ce at the same contact information listed above. If you move to a di� erent attendance area during the school year, please contact your school principal.Elementary Home/Child/School Day

This very important event will be held Sept. 3, 2015, at all of the elemen-tary schools for students in grades one through five. This is an opportunity for parents and children to meet their new teachers and set the stage for a suc-cessful year of learning. This day does count as your child’s first day of school and attendance will be taken. If your family did not receive a mailing with information regarding Home/Child/School Day, please call your neighbor-hood elementary school. Due to all-day kindergarten, the Home/Child/School Day for kindergarten students will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the first day of school for one-12 students. Kindergarten students will start Sept. 9 with half of the students reporting on the ninth and the other half reporting

on Sept. 10. All kindergarten students will report on Friday, Sept. 11. You will receive a letter from your respective school indicating which day your child attends for his/her first day of kinder-garten.Willow Creek Orientation

Willow Creek will have its Orienta-tion on � ursday, Sept. 3. We are sug-gesting that families attend during time-frames below:

� ursday, Sept. 39-10 a.m. Students with the last name

in the Q-Z range11 a.m. — noon Students with the last

name in the H-P range1:30-2:30 p.m. Students with the last

name in the A-G range� e orientation will begin promptly,

at the times listed above, in the gymna-sium. An overview will be covered. Af-terwards, students and parents will visit with sta� members at tables that are set up for student activities. Parents may also stop at the food services table to set up a lunch account for the student. Activ-ity tickets will be available for purchase.

Also, the nurse will be present for any parent needing to drop o� medications for their student. PTSO will also collect PTSO classroom dues. Students will take their school pictures during this time as well.

After visiting tables, students will have an opportunity to drop off their school supplies, meet informally with their teacher, and tour the school. Par-ents should � nd lists of school supplies at Wal-Mart, O� ce Max, and other stores in the area.

AttendanceSchool attendance is important for

students in order to ensure a consistent, quality education. Regular school atten-dance directly impacts success in aca-demic work, bene� ts students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of all students. Please be sure to call your child’s school o� ce to report if your child will be late or absent and include why your child will not be in school. � is in-formation is particularly important in tracking childhood illnesses. Our schools are working closely with the District At-torney’s O� ce and Steele County Hu-man Services to stay on top of student attendance and give assistance if needed to families who are struggling with get-ting their children to school regularly and on time.

Owatonna elementary schools prepare for upcoming yearIMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERSLincoln School 444-8100Attendance Line 444-8105McKinley School 444-8200Attendance Line 444-8205Washington School 444-8300Attendance Line 444-8305Wilson School 444-8400Attendance Line 444-8405Willow Creek School 444-8500Attendance Line 444-8505


We hope that you’ve been having a wonderful summer, but our hallways have been empty for too long and we are greatly anticipating the return of our students. If you are an incom-ing seventh grader – welcome! We really enjoyed bringing you over for tours at the end of the school year and had wonderful conversations with your teachers about the great things that you’ve been doing. We have heard that you are an amazing class and look very forward to meeting you in a few weeks. Incoming eighth graders – we welcome you back! Look forward to a wonderful year, full of all sorts of learning, chal-lenges and activities. We hope that both grades are ready for a year of pushing your limits. We hope to take learning to a whole new level and to challenge you in ways that you’ve not been challenged be-fore. We’ve worked really hard on our curriculum (things we’d like all students to know) this last year and have developed a number of ways to provide feedback to you about your progress and support to help you master and push past our standards.

This year we begin the third year of our school’s direction, which focuses on literacy, learn-ing and leadership. We’ve also been spending quite a bit of time thinking about our mission and vision and what we are willing to

commit to in order for our stu-dents to learn. Furthermore, we’ve spent some time restructuring our school culture and how we can make this the best place possible for our students. So, when you get information on something di� er-ent at OJHS, don’t be surprised – we are just continuing our own growth and learning in our own practice just as we expect our stu-

dents to.Information about orientation

and the school is listed below. We fully acknowledge that attending orientation may not perfectly align with your family’s schedule, but we strongly encourage you to attend. There you’ll be able to receive a lot of information regarding your student, his/her schedule, expecta-tions, the school culture and so on.

Again, with great anticipation we await Sept. 8.Fast facts about OJHS

• About 700 seventh and eighth grade students will attend OJHS next year

• The student day begins at 8:15 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

• Th e building opens for stu-dents at 8:07 a.m. each day.

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

• Th e building is ran by about 75 total staff members, including 43 teachers, a Spanish and So-mali liaison, a full time resource officer, a full time community service o� cer, an assistant prin-cipal, a social worker, a couple of counselors and other support personnel.

• Student schedules are com-plimented with a full array of courses including technology engineering education, art, fam-ily and consumer science, Span-ish, health, orchestra, band, and choir.

• We off er a wide array of co-curricular and extracurricular activities, including but not lim-ited to student council, Leaders for Life, YSHOC, drama, year-book, Jazz Band, WE club, news-paper, and all the major sports.

• To stay up to date, please visit our school’s website or “like” us at www.facebook.com/owa-tonnajuniorhighschool.

• If you’d like to visit our school, please enter through the main entrance on 15th St. NE and sign in at the security desk.Orientation for students and parents

All seventh and eighth grad-ers will attend orientation ses-sions on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at the Owatonna Junior High School.

We invite and encourage par-ents to attend with their child. As a parent, if you cannot attend, your child can still successfully complete the orientation pro-gram, so please ensure that they � nd a way to attend.

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Junior High SchoolOwatonna Junior High School gets ready for new year

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Junior High School Junior High SchoolOJHS UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August24 — Kids First Fall Sports meeting 7 p.m. — Old Gym24 — Kids First Football practice begins31 — Kids First Boys Cross Country and Girls

Volleyball practices beginSeptember2 — OJHS Student/Parent Orientation8:30am-10:30am 7th Grade12:15pm -2:15pm 8th GradeStudent picture day7 — Labor Day/no school8 — First day of school15 — First day of RE (Religious Ed release time)18 — OJHS Teen Night, 7-9 p.m.

The doors will open for all seventh grade parents and stu-dents at 8:20 a.m. Students and parents will be directed to their locations. The day will start with a welcome and introduc-tions and students and parents will then be given a specific plan for the day’s activities. The seventh grade orientation runs from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

The doors wi l l open at 12:05 p.m. for our eighth grade parents and students. Students and parents will be directed to their locations. The day will start with a welcome and in-troductions and students and parents will then be given a spe-cific plan for the day’s activities. The eighth grade orientation runs from 12:15-2:15 p.m.

Orientation Day is also Pic-ture Day. All students will have their picture taken by Life Touch Studios for their student ID cards and the OJHS yearbook. In order to avoid long lines during orientation, students may have their pictures taken prior to their orientations from 7:30–8:25 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–12:10 p.m. Please enter through the athletic entrance on the north side of the building. The academic end of the building will not be accessible during these times. Students may also have their pictures taken during the orientations between 9:25-11:30 a.m. and 1:10–3:10 p.m.

In addition to pictures, stu-dents and parents will have time to go through class schedules and meet their teachers follow-ing the Home Base meetings. An

information fair will be set up in the cafeteria where students will receive information regarding OJHS student support services

and co-curricular activities. Students may purchase activity stickers that activate the student I.D. card. There will also be an

opportunity for students to make payments on their lunch accounts based on the Food and Nutrition Services information given to them in their Home Base classes.

The Owatonna Bus Com-pany will send you bus trans-portation information. The Bus Company will be at orientation to answer your questions and to hand out the student bus passes. If you have any ques-tions regarding transportation, please call the bus company at 451-5262.Health information updates

Please provide all informa-tion regarding immunizations, as well as athletic physical in-formation to Health Services at orientation or send to the

school prior to the beginning of the school year. The clinics do not provide that informa-tion. It must be provided by parents to the school. Health Services will have a table set up outside the OJHS media center to answer any questions on ori-entation day.

Your child will be required to have a current athletic physi-cal on file with the school prior to participating in any Kids First Athletic Programs. In addition, all students partici-pating in the Kids First Sport Program must provide a waiver of insurance coverage. A fam-ily may choose to use their cur-rent medical family coverage, or they may choose to purchase a Student Accident Insurance Policy. These forms are avail-able outside the OJHS office.

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Owatonna High SchoolKEEP YOUR EYES ON THE

PRIZE. This will continue to be our theme for the upcoming school year as Owatonna Senior High School prepares students to be college and career ready. Our core values of high student achievement, college and career readiness, and safe and engag-ing environment continues to guide our work. Our menu of course options allows students to explore possible careers and interests, while at the same time, apply their learning to real world experiences. Many of our students participate in career mentorship and internship courses that allows students and our school to part-ner with area businesses. �is type of “hands on” learning allows our students to prepare for life a�er high school.

Academically, we hold our students to high standards. Our breadth and depth of course o�er-ings allows us to prepare students for college and careers:College preparatory classes

College in the Schools (25 sec-tions o�ered in math, language arts, and social studies)

Advanced Placement (46 sec-tions o�ered in math, language arts, social studies, and world language)Career preparatory courses (work experience programs)

Nine course offerings with over 500 students accessing courses

Over 100 partnerships with area businesses

80-100 students participate in mentorship, on-site work experi-ence programs

Courses offered for college credit at OHS (2014-2015):

26 sections in the areas of math, language arts and social studiesCollege credit opportunities at OHS

College in the Schools cours-

es (Southwest State, Minnesota State, Mankato, Riverland, Uni-versity of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Rasmussen)

AP Test (open to all 1,500 stu-dents)

CLEP (College Level Exami-nation Program) Test (open to all 1,500 students)

Rasmussen on-line coursesBy the numbers

573 high school credits were taken by students in CIS courses for 2014-2015 school year

1,155 high school credits were taken by students in AP courses for 2014-2015 school year

For the 2013-2014 school year, the value of college credit earned by OHS students participating in on-site college courses was over $600,000. �is does not include those who earned college credit by taking the AP and/or CLEP tests and our partnership with Rasmussen Community College.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. Owatonna High School will provide students with a variety of educational opportunities for all students, while at the same time, our sta� will continue to place an emphasis on personalizing the learning of students to ensure all students learn at high levels and are prepared to advance their learning a�er high school. Owatonna Senior High School wants to thank our parents and community for their continued support and partner-ships with our sta� and students. We look forward to the 2015-2016 school year and working to ensure our students.

Keep your eyes on the prizePictures

We require that all students in grades nine through 11 have their picture taken. A picture must be taken in order to get an ID card; there is no charge for this photo. You may elect to pur-chase a photo package, however it is not required. Pictures will be taken on Aug. 26 and 27 between 8 a.m. and 3p.m. Also at that time, you will be able to pick up your schedule, locker assignment, and identi�cation card, purchase your activity ticket, and order your yearbook. It is very important that you make arrangements to be here one of those days. Please go to C-200 to pick up your in-formation packet and have your picture taken.Student and parent orientations

�ere will be two 9th grade ori-entation sessions; one for parents and one for students. �e parent session will be held Monday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. in the OHS Auditorium. It is very important that a parent or guardian attend to receive information to help you have a successful year. Stu-dents are encouraged to attend this session with parents.New students

A meeting for students who are new to the high school will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Career Center at Owaton-na High School. �is meeting is for all students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade who have never attended OHS. �e meeting will

run from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. A variety of topics will be discussed to help you feel more at ease as you approach your new surroundings.

The student session — what we call our “Link Crew Orienta-tion” — will be held in the OHS gymnasium on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. �is ses-sion will be for students only! Dur-ing orientation, freshmen will be given a guided tour of the building and lunch will be served at noon. �ere will be an invitation mailed to you in the next week regarding this freshmen orientation.Class schedules

Your class schedule is very important, so please review it carefully. If there is a question regarding your schedule, please call 444-8815 for an appointment with your counselor. Counsel-ors will be available Aug. 26-28, and Aug.31–Sept. 3. All schedule changes must be done before the

�rst day of school.Students have been assigned to

their counselors according to the �rst letter of their last name:

Ms. Tami Langlois A-EMs. Brynn McConnell F-KMs. Vicki Berdan L-RMs. Margo McKay S-ZSchedule change policy:All schedule changes must be

done prior to the beginning of each quarter. All non-substantive requests for schedule changes such as: changing hours, “I prefer to take it next year,” “I want to have a class with my friend,” etc., will not be considered. We are aware that, oc-casionally, circumstances change between the time of registration and the beginning of class that necessitate changing a schedule.Senior yearbook pictures

Seniors are reminded that their yearbook pictures must be turned in to the high school o�ce no lat-er than Monday, Nov. 16. Digital

Photos are preferred and should be emailed to [email protected] or if on a cd, dropped o� for Mr. Leer in the high school o�ce. If you have questions, please contact our yearbook adviser, Mr. Leer at 444-8849.

Student parkingAll student parking lots are

“pay lots.” In addition, all spaces will be identi�ed by a number and assigned to the student on a �rst come, �rst serve basis beginning with seniors. Seniors may purchase parking passes beginning Monday, Aug. 24 at 8 a.m. Underclassmen may purchase passes beginning Tuesday, Aug. 25, starting at 8 a.m. Students may purchase a parking permit in the main o�ce through Ms. Bergwall. Limited space is available.

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Across the DistrictPhotos are preferred and should be emailed to [email protected] or if on a cd, dropped o� for Mr. Leer in the high school o� ce. If you have questions, please contact our yearbook adviser, Mr. Leer at 444-8849.

Student parkingAll student parking lots are

“pay lots.” In addition, all spaces will be identi� ed by a number and assigned to the student on a � rst come, � rst serve basis beginning with seniors. Seniors may purchase parking passes beginning Monday, Aug. 24 at 8 a.m. Underclassmen may purchase passes beginning Tuesday, Aug. 25, starting at 8 a.m. Students may purchase a parking permit in the main o� ce through Ms. Bergwall. Limited space is available.

Owatonna.com24/7

� e District 761 Board of Education generally meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the District O� ce at 515 W. Bridge Street. Exceptions are noted by an asterisk (). Additional sessions may be scheduled as needed. Check the website for up-to-date information (www.owatonna.k12.mn.us).

SeptemberMonday, Sept. 14, 2015 (work session)Monday, Sept. 28, 2015 (regular meet-ing)OctoberMonday, Oct. 12, 2015 (work session)Monday, Oct. 26, 2015 (regular meeting)NovemberMonday, Nov. 9, 2015 (work session)Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 (regular meeting)DecemberMonday, Dec. 14, 2015 (regular meeting)JanuaryMonday, Jan. 4, 2016 (organizational meeting)Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 (work session)Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 (regular meeting)February

Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 (work session)Monday, Feb. 22, 2016 (regular meeting)MarchMonday, March 7, 2016 (work session)Monday, March 21, 2016 (regular meet-ing)AprilMonday, April 11, 2016 (work session)Monday, April 25, 2016 (regular meet-ing)MayMonday, May 9, 2016 (work session)Monday, May 23, 2016 (regular meeting)JuneMonday, June 13, 2016 (work session)Monday, June 27, 2016 (regular meeting)JulyMonday, July 11, 2016 (regular meeting)

Owatonna school board meeting scheduleAfter a year of study, a compre-

hensive analysis by a 36-member Community Task Force on Facili-ties, a professional community sur-vey and other community input, the Owatonna School Board unanimously decided to adopt Task Force recom-mendations and ask Owatonna vot-ers whether to fund these facilities improvements:

Address high priority deferred maintenance needs at all elementary and junior high schools.

Upgrade school safety and security systems at all schools.

Reduce elementary crowding by building additions on four schools, converting Willow Creek Intermedi-ate to an elementary school and mov-ing sixth graders to the Junior High School.

Fast facts:The last major facilities improve-

ments were done nearly 20 years ago.Most of our schools were designed

more than 50 years ago; school secu-rity concerns have changed dramati-cally since then.

Our elementary schools are full; some learning groups are held in clos-ets and hallways.

The addition of all-day kinder-garten reduced available elementary school space.

The recommended change in grade configuration to kindergarten-fifth, sixth-eighth and nineth-12 aligns with state standards and eliminates one building change for students.

If voters approve the school dis-trict’s bond request on Nov. 3, the average homeowner ($150,000 value home) would see a monthly tax in-crease of approximately $15.

More information is available at www.owatonna.k12.mn.us or by at-

tending a public information session (Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. at Owatonna High School and Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. at Owa-tonna High School).

Referendum to address facilities improvements


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