GRANADA — The Granada-Huntley-East Chain School Board on Thursday heard from Assistant Principal Taylor Topinka, who said the school year has started on a positive note.

He shared various reactions he has heard from staff and students on the topic of returning to school amid the pandemic.

“All in all, looking back, it’s hard to look back and not see all the good things and successful things that have happened,” Topinka said. “I’m so impressed with each member of our GHEC family, and the understanding and flexibility that they’ve approached this school year with. Especially our teaching and support staff, who have put forth an extraordinary amount of effort to tailor whatever is going on inside and outside this building instruction-wise to whatever scenario and situation we’ve found ourselves in this first month.

“I’ve been equally impressed with our students. All things considered, they’ve done so well with every different COVID modification we’ve thrown at them. I’ve heard a lot of them mention how grateful they are to be back in school.”

Topinka noted the school year started with 27 students participating in remote learning, and there are currently 24 students participating. He said it is expected that distance-learning options will remain available through the 2020-2021 school year.

Turning to another matter, Superintendent Doug Storbeck said the overall district perspective is still revolving around the ongoing pandemic.

“We’re making minor adjustments to our hybrid model here and there, making sure that’s continuing to work,” he said. “Looking at the data from week to week and making sure that we’re making the right decision to stay in the hybrid model is not an easy decision that we make on a whim. We take a lot of factors into consideration.”

Storbeck said GHEC is currently planning to stick with the hybrid model, and he was pleased to note that there have been no reported COVID-19 cases among students or staff.

“We’re also looking at different ways we can utilize our CARES Act money, not only in ways that will benefit us this year, but also for years to come,” he said.