March 2026
The State of the District 2026
By Dr. Tammy Champa, Superintendent of Owatonna Public Schools
As the Superintendent of Owatonna Public Schools, I am incredibly proud to share the "State of the District 2026." Our mission remains clear: Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day. At the core of all we do is a commitment to ensuring our 5,248 students are college, career, and life ready.
A Growing, Diverse Community
Owatonna Public Schools is the city’s third-largest employer, with a dedicated team of 1,098 employees. We are a vibrant, diverse community where 41 different languages are spoken across our 10 buildings.
Our students are highly engaged; recent survey data shows that 97% of our middle schoolers try their best at school, and 95% of high school students feel treated with respect by their teachers. To keep this momentum, our leadership team meets quarterly with student advisory groups to ensure their voices guide our progress.
Innovation in Teaching and Learning
This year has been an active one for our Department of Teaching and Learning. In response to the READ Act, we have implemented a new literacy curriculum, Wit and Wisdom, and provided intensive phonics training for our staff.
We are also looking toward the future with:
- An elementary math pilot in seven classrooms with full implementation planned for next year.
- A new middle school intervention pilot launched this spring.
- The implementation of "Educlimber" to better track student data across multiple platforms.
- Targeted support for our American Indian student population through new funding.
- Continuation of the Owatonna Promise scholarship program.
Safety, Technology and Specialized Support
We continue to prioritize a safe and caring community. This year, we collaborated with Homeland Security for walkthroughs of our middle and high schools to refine our emergency protocols. In addition, we held numerous safety trainings and updated access control at our buildings.
A technology subscription audit was conducted, along with planning for technology safety and security and creating a 5-year plan for hardware, devices, and software.
Our commitment to equity is reflected in our robust support services. We currently serve 1,141 students through special education and 446 multilingual learners. Our 11 success coaches work feverishly to maintain strong communication between our families and our schools. Our adult basic education program serves 145 people. And the area that has grown most significantly is Owatonna Online, with 604 students now enrolled.
Fiscal Stewardship
Managing an $80 million budget requires us to be strategic and maximize every dollar. For the upcoming 2026-2027 school year, we have identified $3.8 million in budget adjustments. Our goal was to reach these targets while impacting the student experience and opportunities as little as possible.
During the current legislative session, we are advocating for stable funding and increased support for safe schools and special education.
Community Pride
Owatonna is unique because of its immense community support. From our collaboration with the city on "The Shops at Rose Street" project to partnerships with local businesses and organizations too numerous to count, we are always looking for ways to listen and engage.
We are "Owatonna Proud," and I am honored to lead a district that does so much to provide experiences second to none for our students.
To watch the presentation, please visit isd761.org/stateofdistrict.