Chamber Board Invites Involvement from School District

Superintendent Tapper and School Board Directors recently received the below letter from the OACCT Board of Directors regarding the business community's involvement in future district proposals.


The Owatonna School District is important to local business success by educating the future workforce, attracting new employees, and creating our future leaders.  We appreciate your work.  The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (OACCT) Board of Directors would like to suggest increased involvement by the business community in the strategic efforts of the school district.

Chamber members know the current proposal to cut school programming is a major decision that will impact the district and community in multiple ways.  We believe that a clear plan that results in a safe, productive, and challenging environment will continue to produce the quality student for which Owatonna has come to be known.  Not being directly connected to the development of these proposals leaves us unqualified to advocate a position either way on behalf of our members regarding the validity of the proposal or the course of action that should be taken to resolve the budget crisis.

As you know ‘budget crisis’ is something the business community has been familiar with over the last five years.  The economic recession has forced our businesses to focus on their core products or services to remain relevant and viable.  These experiences are valuable lessons that can be used by the district in their current deliberations.

An example of how these business experiences have been utilized with success has been the City of Owatonna’s focus on providing important services with reduced budgets.  Over the past several years, the Chamber has focused business expertise on local government efficiency and utilizing best practices to find ways to deliver effective services at a lesser cost.    

Our collaborative work with local government shows a sincere desire by the business community to be part of a positive community solution.  Chamber members have acknowledged the importance of the district’s plans and are requesting the Chamber’s agenda include sharing business input on current and future school district proposals.

We welcome an opportunity to share business expertise with school district officials to assist in resolving the challenges facing the district.