GRANADA– The Granada Huntley East Chain School Board on Thursday heard from Superintendent Doug Storbeck, who reported that enrollment is up significantly this year.

Storbeck said they have 323 students in grades K-12, which is up about 10 percent from last year. Last school year they ended with 293 students in grades K-12.

Storbeck briefly discussed the possibility of expanding the school’s ag program and possibly other Careers in Technical Education (CTE) offerings due to the increase in students.

He shared that this year they plan to have students establish a technology goal as well as a classroom goal, which Keri Murphy will help with. Murphy is not new to the district, but has transitioned into the new role of Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

“It’s definitely going to be an exciting year for me in this role, but a challenging year as it’s brand new,” said Murphy.

She said her focus is on what the students are learning and how they’re learning it.

Assistant Principal Taylor Topinka also gave a report, highlighting the start of the 2021-22 school year.

“We’re excited to welcome students back in probably the most normal fashion that we’ve had in quite awhile,” Topinka said.

He said the back to school workshop concluded last week, in which staff and educators prepared classrooms and instructions and worked on some housekeeping items. He said one topic they focused on was student behavior and crisis prevention and intervention.

“We are excited on a middle school and high school level to work on a number of projects and initiatives this year including an increased opportunity to build and celebrate the culture of our school. Basically when we look at the culture we’re looking at expectations and what we value and who we really are as a student body and school,” said Topinka.

He said this week they reviewed student expectations and that there are sheets posted throughout the school reminding students what expectations are in each room.

Topinka also read activities director Erin Roiger’s report, which said all sports are underway and all activities have held at least one competition if not more. Homecoming week has been moved to the week of Oct. 4-8.

“Officiating crews are hard to come by and we’ve had to adjust our originally scheduled Friday, Oct. 15th game to Saturday, Oct. 16th,” read Topinka.

He also said Roiger said theater arts plans to start practices in the next week.

In other action, the board:

— Approved a contract for Chelsea Owens as a paraprofessional.

— Approved a contract for Jill Haken as a paraprofessional.

— Approved the Dec. 9 school board meeting at 6:01 p.m. as the date/time to hold the public hearing regarding the budget and proposed property tax.