Frontier School Keeps Improving

By Bill Vander Weele

When students arrive for the first day of classes at Frontier School on Aug. 16, they might notice some improvements to the facility.

Superintendent Patrick Drapeau explained the school district has developed a fiveyear building maintenance project plan.

“There are just a lot of little things, but they add up,” Drapeau said. “We’re working on a plan every year for some updates.”

He added that the school was built in 1963.

Improvements this year have included a new front door and window. Other projects are a new carpet at the front door entrance and a new floor in the multi-purpose room. New flooring will also be placed in the halls this fall.

“It just needs some TLC, tender, loving care,” Drapeau said of the school.

New teachers at Frontier this fall include Judy Leddige for first grade, Diane Angeles for fifth grade and Lindsay Nefzger in the team leadership program.

Drapeau noted that now almost all of Frontier’s teachers are certified.

He is very pleased that Frontier was able to retain all of its teachers from last school year.

Safety and positive mental health are stressed. Marianne Zilkoski Rees has been added as a counselor.

Other changes include that all students will have physical education every day under the teaching of Bif Loucks. There will be an Native American class as well as Native American art instruction.

“We have a lot of good things going on,” Drapeau said. “I’m excited for it.”