GRANADA — On Thursday, the Granada-Huntley-East Chain (GHEC) school board heard from Superintendent Doug Storbeck who shared a press release detailing a resolution to present voters with a two-question ballot, concerning a referendum and/or operating levy, on Tuesday. Nov. 4.

Per the press release, the board had formally approved the resolution on July 18.

Question one proposes to residents a $8.745 million building bond referendum for renovations and expansions of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) and agriculture shop, addition of two general education classroom, renovation and expansion of existing kitchen and servery area, to address deferred maintenance items, renovation of girls and boys locket rooms and to improve parking lots and additional projects.

Question two proposes reducing the current authority by $200 per student while maintaining current staffing, educational programs and other services.

Should question two not be approved, the school board will utilize its one-time authority to continue the current levy for the next decade.

Back on may 23 the school board submitted a Review and Comment to the Minnesota Department of Education, which is a document required to pursue a referendum. The resolution’s approval was planned in the fall of 2023, after a thorough process of planning, feedback-gathering from stakeholders, and analyses to discover the district’s needs regarding the building and academics.

Furthermore, as stated in the release, the referendum would be funded through a property tax increase if voters approve the plan. For a $200,000 residential home in the district, the estimated tax impact is approximately $7.88 per month starting in 2026. For an agricultural homestead with an estimated market value of $10,000 per acre, the estimated tax impact would be $0.07 per acre per month ($0.83 per acre per year) starting in 2026.

If approved, approximately 57 percent of the total bond referendum’s principle and interest will be covered by the state’s Ag2School tax credit. If question two’s operating levy is approved, residents would see a continuation of the tax impact from the past several years.

Board members individually agreed to attend Township Meetings and inform the public of the ballot and its details. Storbeck shared informational flyers, the website layout for voters and promised the information would be published in the Jaguar Journal.

Storbeck concluded his report, reintroducing the topic of a four-day work week next year. Students would attend school from Tuesday to Friday, and utilize Mondays for academic, extracurricular help. The strategy would eliminate conflicts or interruptions of student enrichment. Storbeck shared he did not want to put a generous amount of focus on the topic, and will rekindle it in November.

Moving to other matters, Curriculum and Instruction Director Bethany Maday told the board that prep work is being completed before the upcoming school year. Online access is configured, curriculum is ordered and two books are pending arrival.

Maday said the State of Minnesota has given her the green light to purchase Capti, a testing service that screens for dyslexia. Maday shared that a new mathematics standard will be rolled out this approaching school year, using COR Advantage.

“Instructors will be able to measure development by observing the students’ academic habits in the classroom, as well as view their academic progression and draw conclusions so instructors can match their students’ needs,” stated Maday.

Instructors have been made aware of this, according to Maday. Training has been conducted in the summer months and she said there will be communication with parents with the system, possibly replacing the former report cards.

In his report, Middle and High School Principal Andy Walden said he is content with GHEC staffing; however, he advises the hiring of one more paraprofessional to help fulfill student needs. Information regarding the GHEC Open House event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the school has been published. Walden said he looks forward to seeing more families register.

“I’m excited for the school year,” Walden said.

Following approval of the handbooks, Board Member Brad Mattson proposed that students and guardians sign a sheet that testifies to their understanding of the handbook guidelines and expectations. Storbeck said a sheet that prompts student and guardian signatures could be implemented. Mattson said that if a student or guardian is combative with school policy, staff could present their signature of handbook compliance.

“It’ll give kids awareness of the expectations of the handbook by signing it,” Chair Jessica Salic said.

In addition, Mattson reiterated his support for cameras in the classroom to locate students’ troubling behaviors, students who require academic intervention, and possible instructors who enable the prohibited cellphone usage in the classroom.

In further business, the GHEC School Board:

— Approved the hiring of Paraprofessional Julie Roettger and High School Science Teacher Jennifer Howard for the 2025-2026 school year.

*Editor’s note: This article has been edited from an earlier version for clarification.