Vote Yes group rallies support for referendum

Supporters of the upcoming Owatonna school bond referendum came to the Owatonna Eagles Club Oct. 23 to enjoy a spaghetti supper and find out more about the upcoming vote.
Messages about the vote were low-key as display boards throughout the room gave a visual idea of what the new high school might look like. Vote Yes volunteers were also on hand to sign up people to help out in the last days of the campaign.
Among the most enthusiastic supporters were the four Gomez sisters: Delaney, Afton, Vivienne and Charlotte. The girls are the daughters of Karley and Rudy Gomez.
The girls decided to entertain with some twirling ribbons as people came to eat supper.
They go to the Montessori program at Washington School, they said, and “we really want to go to the new high school.”
There was a lot of good energy at the event, said Owatonna resident Ryan Gillespie. The district, she said, has been “super fortunate the community has been supportive.”For those with additional questions, she said, OHS Principal Kory Kath was on hand to answer any questions.
Voters in the Owatonna School District will go to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 5, to vote on a two-question bond referendum:
Question 1 is asking residents to vote on the school district’s request for $104 million to build a new high school. Question 2 asks for $8 million to repurpose the current high school.
Question 2 is contingent on the passage of Question 1, meaning Question 2 can only be approved if Question 1 passes. If Question 1 passes but Question 2 does not, most of the current high school would be demolished.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Early voting through absentee ballots are available through Monday at the Steele County Auditor’s Office in Owatonna. In addition to regular hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the auditor’s office will be open this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for early voting.