Owatonna High School: Let's Write the Next Chapter

Consultation has concluded.

We are committed to working with our community—that means you—to help us write the next chapter for the current high school campus. In November 2019, our community generously supported two bond referendum questions. Question 1 allocated $104M toward the construction of a new high school building; Question 2 allocated $8M toward repurposing the current high school campus for school district and/or community needs. 

We appreciate all of the community input provided on the current Owatonna High School property, which was then reviewed by the Existing Owatonna High School Citizens' Task Force. Read below for updates.

Additional information may be found on the school district website.


Update (4/24/23)
The School Board unanimously approved the Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force recommendation (see 4/10 update below) regarding the current high school.

Update (4/10/23)
The Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force made their recommendation to the School Board. The recommendation as stated in the March 16 task force minutes (page 6, item 2):
"The Task Force is recommending to the School Board to cease negotiations with FOHS and proceed with the District’s project on their own timeline. The project should demolish the portions of the building that will not be used by the District and retain the green space. The Task Force suggests the School Board evaluate any future uses of the property with the Task Force’s criteria outlined in previous recommendations on how to use the property to best serve the School District and the Community."

Update (3/16/23)
Former OHS, LLC (FOHS) presented their proposal to the Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force on March 16, 2023. Read the minutes from the March 16 task force meeting.

Update (11/30/22)

The Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force met on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. They learned more about the proposal submitted by Former OHS, LLC and used their guiding principles to review it. They provided a list of follow-up questions to FOHS, LLC, and will reconvene after FOHS, LLC, supplies additional information.

Update (10/17/22)

Owatonna Public Schools continue to work on the re-development of the existing Owatonna High School site. The school district has begun design of the renovations for the northwest tower, the gymnasium and locker rooms, as well as the VoAg building. These will become the district office, gymnastics facility, and district shops and storage respectively. Those projects will go out to bid early in 2023 and start construction after the high school staff and students move into the new high school for the fall of 2023.

The district has been working with a group of citizens since early 2021 to help determine the best use for the campus. Through that process, the district has signed an exploratory agreement with Former Owatonna High School (FOHS). FOHS, LLC was formed and is currently working to develop partnerships and preliminary development plan ideas for the portion of the campus that the School District is not going to use.

Next steps:

  • FOHS, LLC will provide a proposal for the campus to district administration to determine initial feasibility in the near future.
  • FOHS, LLC will bring the proposal to the Existing OHS Citizens’ Task Force in the coming months.
  • The task force will review the proposal to evaluate if it meets the Suitable Use Criteria they developed, and determine their recommendation.
  • The Existing OHS Citizens’ task Force will bring that recommendation to the School Board in early 2023.



Update (4/25/22)

The Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force presented its recommendation at the school board work session on Monday, April 11, 2022, which the school board approved on Monday, April 25, 2022.

The Task Force recommends to the Owatonna Public Schools School Board that:

  • The District own and operate the C Plaza, Gymnasium/Locker Room spaces, and VoAg building, as well as support spaces such as parking to support functions currently housed at the 515 W Bridge Street and 115 E Rose Street.

  • Enter into a Development Agreement with Paul Warshauer of Grande Venues / FOHS (Former Owatonna High School) LLC to explore potential redevelopment of the remainder of the building/complex as outlined in the proposal dated March 9, 2022.

  • Provide regular updates to the Task Force as the process with Paul Warshauer of Grande Venues / FOHS LLC progresses.

  • Call Task Force back to action when more information is available (anticipated to be near the end of 180 day time period requested from developer) before final decisions are made by School Board.

View additional information.


Update (2/10/22)

The Existing OHS Citizens’ Task Force has proposed two recommendations:

  • consolidate the appropriate district functions from the current District Office and Rose Street facilities to the existing high school site, and
  • continue to seek partners to redevelop other portions in a way that would benefit the community.

The task force has endorsed a plan to issue a Request for Preliminary Proposals from developers. The purpose of this request is to gauge interest from serious developers. Full development proposals will follow through a more comprehensive RFP process and/or negotiations with the District following the preliminary RFP process.

Read the full Request for Preliminary Proposals.

Proposals are due February 28, 2022 by 4:00 PM.


Update (11/04/21)
A commissioned group called the Existing Owatonna High School Citizens Task Force is prepared to convene and examine the future of the century old Owatonna High School facility. This building will no longer be used when the new high school opens in 2023. Following review of several applications, 25 community members were selected to help represent a broad cross-section of the community. CLICK HERE

The next phase will include research and exploration of shared community member ideas, options, determining what might fit within our allocated budget, what partnerships might be built to fund non district programs, and define future district utilization of the current OHS property.  (See the Planning Schedule at the right for more information.)


QUESTIONS? If they are regarding plans for the existing high school, please direct your question to 'Ask the Superintendent' below.

Wondering about the progress of the new high school? Visit the project page here.

Or click here and scroll down to see construction drone footage, rendering photos, and project photos.

We are committed to working with our community—that means you—to help us write the next chapter for the current high school campus. In November 2019, our community generously supported two bond referendum questions. Question 1 allocated $104M toward the construction of a new high school building; Question 2 allocated $8M toward repurposing the current high school campus for school district and/or community needs. 

We appreciate all of the community input provided on the current Owatonna High School property, which was then reviewed by the Existing Owatonna High School Citizens' Task Force. Read below for updates.

Additional information may be found on the school district website.


Update (4/24/23)
The School Board unanimously approved the Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force recommendation (see 4/10 update below) regarding the current high school.

Update (4/10/23)
The Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force made their recommendation to the School Board. The recommendation as stated in the March 16 task force minutes (page 6, item 2):
"The Task Force is recommending to the School Board to cease negotiations with FOHS and proceed with the District’s project on their own timeline. The project should demolish the portions of the building that will not be used by the District and retain the green space. The Task Force suggests the School Board evaluate any future uses of the property with the Task Force’s criteria outlined in previous recommendations on how to use the property to best serve the School District and the Community."

Update (3/16/23)
Former OHS, LLC (FOHS) presented their proposal to the Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force on March 16, 2023. Read the minutes from the March 16 task force meeting.

Update (11/30/22)

The Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force met on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. They learned more about the proposal submitted by Former OHS, LLC and used their guiding principles to review it. They provided a list of follow-up questions to FOHS, LLC, and will reconvene after FOHS, LLC, supplies additional information.

Update (10/17/22)

Owatonna Public Schools continue to work on the re-development of the existing Owatonna High School site. The school district has begun design of the renovations for the northwest tower, the gymnasium and locker rooms, as well as the VoAg building. These will become the district office, gymnastics facility, and district shops and storage respectively. Those projects will go out to bid early in 2023 and start construction after the high school staff and students move into the new high school for the fall of 2023.

The district has been working with a group of citizens since early 2021 to help determine the best use for the campus. Through that process, the district has signed an exploratory agreement with Former Owatonna High School (FOHS). FOHS, LLC was formed and is currently working to develop partnerships and preliminary development plan ideas for the portion of the campus that the School District is not going to use.

Next steps:

  • FOHS, LLC will provide a proposal for the campus to district administration to determine initial feasibility in the near future.
  • FOHS, LLC will bring the proposal to the Existing OHS Citizens’ Task Force in the coming months.
  • The task force will review the proposal to evaluate if it meets the Suitable Use Criteria they developed, and determine their recommendation.
  • The Existing OHS Citizens’ task Force will bring that recommendation to the School Board in early 2023.



Update (4/25/22)

The Existing OHS Citizens' Task Force presented its recommendation at the school board work session on Monday, April 11, 2022, which the school board approved on Monday, April 25, 2022.

The Task Force recommends to the Owatonna Public Schools School Board that:

  • The District own and operate the C Plaza, Gymnasium/Locker Room spaces, and VoAg building, as well as support spaces such as parking to support functions currently housed at the 515 W Bridge Street and 115 E Rose Street.

  • Enter into a Development Agreement with Paul Warshauer of Grande Venues / FOHS (Former Owatonna High School) LLC to explore potential redevelopment of the remainder of the building/complex as outlined in the proposal dated March 9, 2022.

  • Provide regular updates to the Task Force as the process with Paul Warshauer of Grande Venues / FOHS LLC progresses.

  • Call Task Force back to action when more information is available (anticipated to be near the end of 180 day time period requested from developer) before final decisions are made by School Board.

View additional information.


Update (2/10/22)

The Existing OHS Citizens’ Task Force has proposed two recommendations:

  • consolidate the appropriate district functions from the current District Office and Rose Street facilities to the existing high school site, and
  • continue to seek partners to redevelop other portions in a way that would benefit the community.

The task force has endorsed a plan to issue a Request for Preliminary Proposals from developers. The purpose of this request is to gauge interest from serious developers. Full development proposals will follow through a more comprehensive RFP process and/or negotiations with the District following the preliminary RFP process.

Read the full Request for Preliminary Proposals.

Proposals are due February 28, 2022 by 4:00 PM.


Update (11/04/21)
A commissioned group called the Existing Owatonna High School Citizens Task Force is prepared to convene and examine the future of the century old Owatonna High School facility. This building will no longer be used when the new high school opens in 2023. Following review of several applications, 25 community members were selected to help represent a broad cross-section of the community. CLICK HERE

The next phase will include research and exploration of shared community member ideas, options, determining what might fit within our allocated budget, what partnerships might be built to fund non district programs, and define future district utilization of the current OHS property.  (See the Planning Schedule at the right for more information.)


QUESTIONS? If they are regarding plans for the existing high school, please direct your question to 'Ask the Superintendent' below.

Wondering about the progress of the new high school? Visit the project page here.

Or click here and scroll down to see construction drone footage, rendering photos, and project photos.

Consultation has concluded.

  • Have ALL of the following facilities and campuses been considered to be relocated and consolidated into the existing high school under 1 roof and location? If so why are they ALL not being proposed to be consolidated? District office Bridge st. District Services Rose st. District warehouse Front St. Alc Main st. Print shop Vine st. Early childhood McKinley st.

    Brad William Sorum asked over 2 years ago

    It is not possible to put all of the programs, staff and students under one roof as the cost would be more than question 2 of the bond referendum allowed. Question 2 of the November 2019 bond referendum set aside $8M to repurpose parts of the building for district usage. The most recent work of the Current OHS Taskforce laid out a plan that reserves the 1998 addition (C Plaza) for a district office, allowing the current district office on Bridge Street to be sold. Secondly, repurposing the current agriculture annex (1978) to a district maintenance shop allows us to vacate and sell our property on Rose Street. The money from question 2 also allows the repurposing of the current gym/locker room areas to be used to house our gymnastics program.  

    Adding any other programs to the site would out cost the funding we have to use.

  • Does the district anticipate demolition of any of the existing property?

    Matt Kottke asked over 3 years ago

    The district does not anticipate the need for additional building square footage. However, if no other interest parties emerge as a part of the process, part of the budget does accommodate for any potential demolition. Areas that could be impacted by this include:

    • G-wing (Math, Science and Industrial Tech area)
    • Lunchroom
    • Atrium area
    • Underground plaza areas
    • 1921 portion of the building, including the auditorium.

  • From what I understand, one of the things we voted on was adding $8 million toward the current high school site. How exactly will that money be used? Updates? Demolition? I imagine it must be earmarked for something specific.

    Owatonna Transplant asked over 3 years ago

    Based on the two question passed in the recent referendum vote, the school district has an allocated $11 million for the re-use of the current Owatonna High School campus. While the district is currently reviewing public comment and suggestions – many of which came through Engage Owatonna – and developing an action plan, there are some areas where the district believes some of the funds could be allocated:

    • The three-story portion at the northwest corner (C Plaza) is anticipated to be remodeled to house district administration offices.
    • The Ag/Annex building is anticipated to be utilized for district maintenance shops.
    • Tennis courts to remain available for district and community use.
    • Gymnasium and locker rooms anticipated to house High School and youth gymnastics programs.
    • Field and track to remain available for district and community use.

  • Are there portions of the current campus that can be saved? If so, will the district be open to partnerships with others?

    remarksjeff asked over 3 years ago

    Based on the two question passed in the recent referendum vote, the school district has an allocated $11 million for the re-use of the current Owatonna High School campus. While the district is currently reviewing public comment and suggestions – many of which came through Engage Owatonna – and developing an action plan, there are some areas where the district believes some of the funds could be allocated:

    • The three-story portion at the northwest corner (C Plaza) is anticipated to be remodeled to house district administration offices.
    • The Ag/Annex building is anticipated to be utilized for district maintenance shops.
    • Tennis courts to remain available for district and community use.
    • Gymnasium and locker rooms anticipated to house High School and youth gymnastics programs.
    • Field and track to remain available for district and community use.


    If additional portions of the campus buildings were to be saved, additional funding for improvement and remodeling of facilities would be needed from outside partners. Any portions that would be used for other programs would also have to address funding for operation and ongoing maintenance. The district is remaining flexible in their plans at this time depending on participation of other partners in the re-use of the campus.