As Owatonna Public Schools launches into the final quarter of the 2023-24 school year, Superintendent Jeff Elstad has plenty of news to share.
Elstad sat down with community members Friday morning for the latest Coffee and Conversation session, discussing current events in the district, answering concerns from the public and teasing the upcoming opening of the 1920 Owatonna High School time capsule discovered earlier this year.
Held roughly once a month, Coffee and Conversation gives the public an opportunity to meet with the superintendent in an informal setting and chat about the goings-on in the district.
Time capsule
Elstad announced the time capsule reveal will take place April 22 in the Crandall Center, immediately prior to the Owatonna School Board meeting that evening. He expects the century-old capsule — which has not yet been opened — to mostly contain historical documents, but has his fingers crossed for any surprising artifacts from the time period.
Workers discovered the metal box inside a capstone labeled AD 1920 during the demolition of the former OHS building, which was completed in 1921. While there was no apparent record of a time capsule being placed in the building, Elstad said they worked around the capstone "gingerly" in case it contained any surprises.
He confirmed the former OHS is the only district building to contain a time capsule.
Since demolition on the 1921 OHS began, the district has offered the building's bricks to the public. Elstad revealed the supply of usable bricks has been exhausted.
Elementary boundaries
Elstad also addressed the new elementary attendance areas recently approved by the Owatonna School Board, set to take effect this fall.
"It’s been a reset for us. We did impact a number of families, and we recognize that. That’s hard. Change is hard. But one of the things that I remain committed to is that no matter what elementary building you attend in Owatonna, you are getting the same fantastic education," he said.
The district will hold open houses prior to next school year, for students and families who are moving schools to visit with staff and acclimate to their new schools
Elstad said around 2,500 people participated in the boundary redevelopment process in some way, whether serving on the input or design team or submitting online feedback.
He touted improved transportation efficiency and more balanced class sizes across schools as two benefits of the new boundaries.
Community questions
Elstad responded to a variety of questions and concerns from attendees.
Referencing Wee Pals Child Care Center's recent relocation to the Owatonna Education Center, retired educator Liz Langer questioned why the available space in the building wasn't used to unite Early Childhood Education, which is split across different sites.
"If there’s room for Wee Pals, why isn’t there enough space for Early Childhood?" she asked.
Elstad said the district found room for Wee Pals on the third floor, which is a suitable space temporarily but not ideal as a long-term facility for young children.
"It’s not a perfect set-up, but the alternative was just sort of closing down altogether. It works temporarily. If we were going to investigate having Wee Pals there in a more full-time basis, we would have to do some modifications," he said.
Elstad said the school board is committed to uniting the program in one facility, and he hopes to have a clearer idea of what that will look like by late fall.
Michele Waddell, who has grandchildren in the district, told Elstad she attended the event to air her concerns about school athletics conflicting with church activities on Wednesday nights.
"When we first moved to Owatonna, the rule in the community was no activities scheduled on Wednesday because church was important. That seems to have fallen by the wayside greatly, and I would like to know when or why," she said.
Waddell stressed she was not one to criticize the district, but said she sees a "battle" between school athletics and church for kids' time.
Elstad said the district was serious about preserving Wednesday as "family night," whether families use it for religious activities or anything else. He noted the district is careful not to schedule middle school activities on Wednesday, even if it means missing the occasional game. Elstad said he and Activities Director Marc Achterkirch strive to do the same at the high school level, but they have to work around the availability of officials, who are in short supply.
Though they do sometimes schedule games on Wednesdays or Saturdays, Elstad absolutely ruled out scheduling them on Sundays.
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