Voting Results for Owatonna School District

Owatonna School District voters approved a new high school during a special election on Tuesday with almost 56 percent voting in favor of replacing the nearly 100-year-old building. A second question for money to re-purpose the current high school passed with about 52 percent approval.

A similar plan failed in May by a margin of 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent. There was only one question at that time. Owatonna Superintendent Jeff Elstad said Tuesday night. "We are incredibly grateful to our community for this double vote of confidence. The new high school and the re-purposed existing high school will benefit our entire community, not just our students. Today we are truly Owatonna Proud.”

Owatonna School Board Chairman Mark Sebring added, “After the narrow defeat of our new high school request in May, we spent the summer listening to what our community wants while remembering what our students need. These requests reflected what we heard and this vote shows the community agreed.”

The new building will be constructed on land that will be purchased and donated by Federated Insurance. The structure will be 300,000 square feet and will be in southern Owatonna, near the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 218. It will house 1,600 students.

Results from the Tuesday, November 5 special election in the Owatonna School District to decide on whether a new high school should be built and approving funding to re-purpose the current high school.

Voters were asked two questions. The first one on funding a new high school. The second question asks for money to remodel the current building and can only pass if the first question passes.

Unofficial total votes: