GRANADA– The Granada Huntley East Chain (GHEC) school board held its meeting for the month of February on Thursday. During the meeting they discussed the resignation of high school principal Taylor Topinka.

Topinka will be leaving GHEC at the end of the school year to become superintendent of the United South Central school district which serves the city of Wells and other nearby communities in Faribault County.

“I’m sure excited for the new position but at the same time it’s bittersweet because this place has been an awesome place to work for the last couple of years and it’s a tough school and group of people to leave behind. I’m glad for my time here at Granada Huntley East Chain and I wouldn’t trade that for the world,” said Topinka.

Superintendent Doug Storbeck presented a draft of an application for Topinka’s position to the board. Storbeck said he intends to formally post an application on Friday and currently intends to close the application by March 3.

In his report Storbeck noted he had attended a meeting on Feb. 6 with representatives from Fairmont, Martin County West, United South Central and Blue Earth in Fairmont to discuss restorative disciplinary practices. These practices aim to reduce or replace punitive disciplinary practices, work proactively to prevent poor behavior, and improve relationships between students and teachers. Storbeck said work was being done at all participating districts to implement a shared set of standards regarding restorative practices

Storbeck also noted GHEC held its annual spelling bee earlier this week. This year’s winner was 6th grader Lucy Koch who was last year’s runner up. The winning word was ‘significance.’

In her report to the board Director of Curriculum and Instruction Keri Murphy highlighted the implementation of a new math intervention program for elementary and middle school students. The new program is offered by McGraw Hill and uses digital tools to assist students while complying with state and federal standards.

Murphy also highlighted other activities going on for elementary students including I Like to Read Month which includes activities designed to encourage reading such as the Scholastic Book Fair and dress up days, an after school robotics program for elementary students for 3rd and 4th graders, a new after school choir program for 4th and 5th graders, a 4H after school STEAM program for 1st through 3rd graders, and a new service project for FFA and NHS students which will have students package food aid on Feb. 22.

In other business:

— In his report to the board Topinka noted the high school was almost done preparing its course catalog for the upcoming school year.

— The board voted to approve contracts for Dan Anderson as a long-term substitute ag/shop teacher and Leslie Donohue as a paraprofessional starting on Feb. 6 for the remainder of the school year.

— The board designated McKenzie Wagelie as the high school FFA advisor for the remainder for the school year.

— The board updated this year’s school calendar, changing April 6 from a half day of instruction with early dismissal to a full day of instruction.

— The board passed a resolution designating the month of February as School Board Recognition Month.