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.

  • Citizen Task Force Application (closed)

    Interested in serving on the Owatonna Public Schools’ Existing Owatonna High School Citizens’ Task Force?

    The Task Force is being convened to examine the future of the existing Owatonna High School facility, which will no longer be used for 9-12 instruction when the new high school opens in 2023. As a part of the November 2019 Bond Referendum, the community voted to approve question #2 which allocated funds for the conversion of portions of the building for District use. As a part of this funding request, the District committed to engaging the community about the future of the facility, and this Existing OHS Citizens’ Task Force is a part of that process.