School Board Meeting || June 29th, 2026 || Owatonna Public Schools

The Owatonna Public Schools Board held a meeting on June 29, 2026, focusing primarily on budgetary and procurement matters. The board reviewed and approved the preliminary budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which included detailed discussions on revenue projections, expenditures totaling approximately $85.6 million, and fund balances. They also approved the 2026-2027 casual worker pay schedule aligned with labor standards. A significant procurement decision involved approving a multi-year transportation contract with the Owatonna Bus Company, which included negotiated rate increases over the next three years. Additionally, the board approved the long-term facilities maintenance plan for 2027-2036, addressing ongoing and future capital improvement projects such as renovations at the Owatonna Education Center and Roosevelt. The board also passed a resolution to align the federal micro purchase threshold with the state threshold, increasing it from $10,000 to $25,000 to allow greater purchasing flexibility. Membership decisions were made to continue with the Minnesota School Board Association but to discontinue membership with Schools Advocating for Fair Funding due to overlapping services. Finally, the board accepted donations including temperature kiosks and funds from the historical society. All motions related to budget, contracts, and procurement were approved unanimously.