Owatonna School Board Prepares for Elementary School Adjustments

At the April 11 meeting, the Owatonna School Board discussed the policy for balancing the district's elementary schools when Willow Creek becomes a K-5 school in 2017-18.

The transition aims to ease crowding at the elementary level. Planning groups are working on details to convert Willow Creek to an elementary school and the junior high from a 7-8 school to a middle school with grades 6-8. All sixth-graders currently attend Willow Creek. Ideas will be taken to the school board in late May, according to the school district's newsletter.

While balancing the elementary enrollment the district would like to minimize the disruption to families while aiming for 85 percent capacity at the schools. They would also like to keep a good geographic proximity for students, keeping busing to a minimum. Early this summer the administration will develop various options to align the elementary enrollment, with final decisions expected in June. Plans will be implemented for the 2017-18 school year.

Action is possible thanks to the approval of the bond referendum in November 2015.