Just a quick update with information for the school board candidate forums that are coming soon.
September 28, 2026 Forum at the Owatonna Country Club. Registration and paid tickets are needed if you plan to attend for lunch, otherwise no cost to attend! Here is the info: https://chamber.owatonna.org/events/details/2026-school-board-candidate-forum-35776 & https://owatonna.org/advocacy/2026-candidate-forums/
October 12, 2026 Forum at Torey’s Restaurant sponsored by the Owatonna Area Retired Educators Association (OAREA). I do not have any further information about attendance or if this is open to the public or just the members. Gary Schwartz is the contact for this forum. Candidates received a list of questions that will be asked which I have typed here:
- Lately there seems to be concern about what our children are reading at school and what they are being taught. What is your opinion about materials censorship and the method of teaching?
- Many citizens believe the role of a school board member is to work with administrators to create and monitor the basic policies of the district. And it is the responsibility of the administration and staff to implement these policies. As a member of the Owatonna SB, would you follow this philosophy or would you attempt to reach into the buildings/classrooms to influence individuals or departments?
- Several of our members are concerned that individual SB members have served as advocates for specific school programs or activities. In recent years this has included various music programs, extra-curricular sports, etc. As a member of the Owatonna SB, do you intend to focus attention on any particular program or activity? What actions would you take to support your belief?
- In recent years school district levy/bond referendums have passed/failed by very slim margins. Assuming the SB approves the request for a levy/bond; what would be your role in advocating for the proposal?
Candidates also received a questionnaire from Ann Silverness with Keeping Hope Alive, a local organization of women that “meet monthly to discuss many things pertinent to our town, learn how to support our fellow neighbors in Owatonna and to collect donations for people in need.” I have copied/pasted the 3 questions and my answers here for your review:
Keeping Hope Alive – School Board Candidate questionnaire
What is your position on book banning?
First, I am thankful to be living in the United States of America where we have the First Amendment which gives us the right to freedom of speech. By this constitutional right, there should be no book banning in our country. That said, our government has also created laws and guidelines to restrict or warn adults about age-appropriate materials for children. We have in place movie ratings, video game ratings, TV show ratings, for the protection of vulnerable developing minds. Our schools have current policies in place to protect our children from information in books and through the internet that are deemed harmful to children. As parents, we also have a right to limit or restrict materials and exposures to our children in the way we believe that it is best for them. We also need to consider the purpose of public school, which is primarily for the academic education of our children.
Thus, in the context of public schools, which are for the purpose of educating students of many ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, and belief systems, and funded by taxpayer dollars bound by many restrictions given by the federal and state governments, I expect that there are safeguards and limitations to the reading materials students are provided while in school and working through school curriculum.
How would you handle more DEI in the school system?
As with any intervention or program, we need to consider the need and the effectiveness and the cost. To evaluate “more DEI in the school system,” first I would look at what has been done already and how effective has it been. What are the goals and what are the desired outcomes of the current DEI efforts? Does the current programming need to be changed, updated, or revised, and why? Cost also needs to be considered. Does the current budget allow for an added expenditure? Is there a grant that would help with cost? The board just approved a revised diversity policy that is well written and emphasizes the importance of welcoming and including and giving equal opportunity to all students. This is policy 110.
In addition, given the limited hours of a school day and the current budget within the district, we need to consider that if we are adding more of something, is it taking the place of something else. Ultimately, all programs and interventions in the schools should be for the benefit of our students’ learning and academic success.
As funding becomes a concern, what is your commitment to our community regarding continued focus and support for our careers programs?
Owatonna Public Schools has an excellent Career Pathways program and I plan to continue to support this program, including its growth. To do this, we need to maintain and grow good relationships with local businesses and organizations for training and shadowing and providing internship opportunities for our students. The district strongly benefits from having dedicated staff as Career Navigators, of which we currently have two. In light of our recent budget reductions, Dr. Champa has ensured that we have been able to keep both of our Navigators on staff.
We also want to ensure that we are setting up our students individually for success by teaching skills for professionalism, supporting them with needed tools and learning opportunities within career pathways, which then allows for growth in confidence and overall abilities. All of which leads our students toward the goal for success beyond high school graduation.
NEXT WEEK is Homecoming week with the parade on Friday afternoon and the football game Friday evening!
