Hurley School Board discusses potential band trip

By MEGAN HUGHES

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Hurley — At a Monday meeting, the Board of Education for the Hurley School District heard a presentation from band director Jesika Cane regarding a potential trip for band students during the spring break of the 2025-26 school year.

Cane said the trip to Disney World will require further fundraising, as the band so far has raised only about one-third of the potential expense.

Cane estimates that the band has raised roughly $19,000 of the required $64,000 needed to make the trip. She is seeking additional ways to raise remaining funds.

According to her, the trip was first pitched three years ago.

Genisot raised concerns with the amount they still had left to raise.

“My concern would be for the students and everyone planning, if we got to next year at this time and we were at $35,000 or $40,000 and we were $24,000 short and you already committed with the airline, or we lose funding, what happens then?” he asked. “What’s plan B?”

Cane replied that she intends to meet with all the parents to discuss their options.

Genisot will gather questions from the board for Cane to review and reply to at the January board meeting, when she will provide additional information about fundraising plans.

In other news, the board revisited the possibility of changing the day of the week for monthly meetings, an item carried over from the September meeting.

Genisot brought up that board members who are unable to attend in person can opt to attend a meeting virtually. “The state statute does not dictate how you have to attend, whether that be in person or virtually,” he said.

He added that the two main methods that came to mind were to attend over the phone or via a zoom call, with emphasis on the importance of the audience and board members being able to understand each other.

No action was taken following these clarifications.

Board members also:

—Approved the ECCP and SCN credits for spring 2025.

—Approved the financial reports. “I do want to remark on the financial report,” said board president Leslie Kolesar. “I was looking through those, and this is one of those reasons that we are so financially sound — we sold those old lathes on a Wisconsin Auction site for $9,200, which is a good job. We had a grant for $20,000. The Hurley Education Foundation put in $20,000, so we only spent about $11,000 of the district’s money (on new lathes).”

—Voted to approve opening an account for the home maintenance class to allow students to raise related funds.

—Heard that the annual Halloween costume parade will be held on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. in the high school gym.

—Heard an update from elementary principal / athletic director Steve Lombardo, who said, “All of our varsity sports are starting tournament play this week.” The girl’s basketball season will begin on Nov. 11, and boy’s basketball will begin on Nov. 18.

—Heard the middle/high school principal report.

—Heard the CESA 12 report.

—Entered an executive session, after which no action was taken.