Another donor has come forward to contribute to the May 14 School Board Referendum. Mayo Clinic Health System has not released the dollar amount they are donating; however, they are funding a health care learning lab, scoreboard in the gymnasium, and a new athlete training room for the potential new Owatonna High School.

Mayo Clinic has now joined several local businesses funding the school referendum. In the district staff update, Jeff Elstad, Superintendent of Owatonna Public schools, said, “We cannot say thank you enough to the local businesses for their continued support in education.”

The main reason Mayo Clinic Health System is in support of a new school is to further students’ interest in health care and help push students in the right direction with their own learning lab focused on health. OHS Principal, Mr. Mark Randall, said, “This partnership will help us provide students with career-ready experiences in the Health Sciences and Human Services Career Pathway. We are extremely grateful for this donation as it shows the strong support our business partners have for our schools.”

If students are interested in this pathway, it may guide their post-secondary options. This type of learning will give students experience in a field they are interested in or want to investigate.

Mayo Clinic’s financial commitment is a way for them to express their interest in providing kids with a hands-on curriculum for a healthcare career that this community needs. In the district staff update, Brian Bunkers, M.D., President of Mayo Clinic Health System-Owatonna, said, “A new high school is a key element needed for the clinic to recruit and retain the staff that provides for the health care needs of this community.”

Mayo Clinic Health System’s joins Federated, Wenger, and Viracon in large donations for a new high school. The donations of money and facility supplies continue to lower the taxpayers’ price tag.  On May 14, 2019, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m, Owatonna community members will be able to vote at the election for the bond to build the new high school.