GRANADA — Granada Huntley East-Chain school is completing plans for the upcoming school year before students return to its doors. Principal Andrew Walden is elated with the filled staff and event preparations as the school year is set to begin next week.

Walden explained that he and his team of staff at the school are looking forward to bringing students a great, academic space with applicable opportunities when they arrive for the school year.

“The biggest thing [occurring at the school] is continuing what we have been doing,” Walden said.

As he announced at a previous school board meeting, Walden attended an Artificial Intelligence convention in Mankato. According to Walden, there are currently no AI implementations within the school operations or curriculum. However, Walden is working on the beginning stages of how to effectively use said robots in the school system. With Artificial Intelligence remarked to be abused easily by many schools, GHEC acknowledges this to be tread carefully so cheating assignments aren’t enabled.

Concerning staff, Walden welcomed Joe Maidl as the official Buildings and Grounds Director of the school. Before his faculty position, Maidl served as the president of the Martin County chapter of Pheasants Forever. With his new position as Buildings and Grounds Director, Maidl will oversee the maintenance and new features within the GHEC grounds. With the new boiler and softener recently installed onto school grounds, Walden shared he was confident in the filled staff for this upcoming school year.

“We also have one more custodial worker that has helped with [the installation of both the boiler, softener and more],” Walden shared.

Walden pointed out that the state of Minnesota now requires each school to implement a restricting cell phone policy during school hours. GHEC students will be asked to leave their cell phones in their lockers and not to present them during class. Students, evidently, will be able to collect their electronics after school is dismissed.

“We’re asking students to follow that cell phone policy in order to focus on their academic experience,” Walden noted.

Following students entering the building will be the school’s annual Jag Days event. In addition, just days before school is set to begin, Walden and the staff are eagerly preparing for Homecoming (September 9-13, with coronation on September 10) and further event traditions on September 11. That evening, at 5:00 pm, will be the GHEC Fun Run.

The school welcomed a new robotics program for the middle school and hopes to continue with a strong FFA team. Walden expressed that he hopes to expand programming and more opportunities for the students of GHEC, both regarding leisure and academic standing,

“[Staff] would love to expand all the opportunities,” Walden said, “We have such a great team of staff, and it’ll be so great when students come into the building.”

Walden concluded that he is eager to have the chance to bring the school and community together with its outreach and several events planned.