GRANADA — During its Thursday evening meeting the Granada-Huntley-East Chain (GHEC) School Board spoke of last year’s financial logs and current accomplishments made by extracurricular clubs so far in the 2024-2025 school year.

To start, the board transitioned focus to the financial report and consideration of claims. Board Member Jessica Salic asked about recent purchases, to which other members clarified that cabinets for the school’s ‘sick room’, additional cleaning supplies and machines were bought. A member of the audience explained that the purchased materials would be an upgrade compared to previous utilities.

Furthermore, ABDO (accounting service in Mankato) Senior Associate, John Stachel, briefly met with the School Board in a Zoom meeting to explain previous ‘Independent School District No. 2536 Financial Statement Audits’, which were accumulated from the 2023-2024 school year, demonstrated by a collection of graphs before the board. In his speech, Stachel covered topics such as audit opinion and responsibility, general fund results, miscellaneous governmental funds and key performance indicators. As he presented the graphs of information, Stachel compared the budget to the actual spending, and expenses per ADM –GHEC students enrolled in a single school year. Based on the provided information on food service, special education, elementary and secondary, community service, property tax and general fund expenditures, GHEC exceeded the state average on a few of the reports; the school was below the average on some. It was added in the Debt Service record that the debts in question would be completely paid off in 2036.

Superintendent Doug Storbeck shared his report, explaining some utilities in the building were discovered to be declining. One of the utilities in question was recently replaced this summer.

“There are some ‘growing pains’ with the boiler and the heating system,” Storbeck described. “There’s a lot of components which are deteriorating. They will have to be addressed.”

As an update on teachers and activities, the GHEC agriculture instructor and FFA chapter supervisor, McKenzie Wagelie, and two of her students stood before the School Board and shared their experiences in a slide presentation from the recent National FFA Convention last month in Indianapolis, Ind. The school took 20 students in grades 7 to 11 to the convention. The Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton traveled with them and brought their own 13 FFA qualifiers.

“We got to tour a dairy farm, fish farm, honey farm, and an exotic feline rescue center,” Wagelie said.

Back and forth, her two students recounted the experiences of each trip. They explained it was a great opportunity to learn about agriculture and how farms and rescues operated. After a concert, the chapter had the honor of receiving its National Chapter Award on stage.

Storbeck concluded the meeting by showing the rest of the board a portal file in Google Drive, which they would use to further exchange information. With parent and teacher conferences having recently concluded, Storbeck said he wasn’t impressed by how many parents attended the conferences.

“Only 90 percent of parents made it,” he said.“We’re challenged to get parents we really need here.”

He concluded the meeting with updates to overdosing medication and phone policies and hopes to install security cameras on school buses after student conflicts on the way to and from school.

In miscellaneous news, the school board:

— Approved winter coaches for the 2024-2025 school year. This includes Sam Stine, Carter Brudelie, Kayden Loeschen, Leah Rode-Mulder and Alexa Roorda.

— Approved hiring Marvel Hiniker and Nolan Hansen as paraprofessionals.

— Approved hiring Gina Huhnerkoch as the CTE/Shop/Ag teacher.

— Decided to evaluate ‘the need’ for Andy Sodersten as a floating substitute throughout the school year. Until they, he will proceed his current contracted duties.

— Approved hiring Brad Haugen as a long-term mathematics substitute.