Frontier Elementary School Board Discusses Strained Resources

New Schedule Approved To Combat Pandemic

The Frontier School board met Thursday, Nov. 12. The meeting was accessible remotely via Zoom. The board discussed strategies for reopening. Meeting minutes were approved, as was a purchase order from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Superintendent Christine Eggar gave a presentation regarding COVID19’s impact on the county and local schools.

At the beginning of the school year, Frontier was host to 124 students, but with other schools reopening and implementation of partial reopening plans, the school dropped to 115.

Parents and staff expressed hopes about reopening completely and concerns about increasing COVID-19 infections in the county. Teacher Tina Strauser said the school saw most infections occur on Mondays because students tend to mingle with each other during the weekend.

“I can’t do it anymore,” Strauser said. “I am sinking as one of your teachers.”

Eggar proposed a motion applying for Title 1 status to enable Frontier to receive additional funds for the high percentage of low-income students that attend the school. The motion passed.

Eggar also proposed the creation of a new schedule that rotates students and faculty by grades.

Some doubts were raised about the strategy due to continuous exposure to teachers and staff. The board approved the schedule temporarily, taking effect Nov. 16. The policy will be reviewed during the next board meeting.

Starting Monday, Nov. 16, students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 attend. On Tuesday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 attend. On Wednesday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 attend. On Thursday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 attend. On Friday, students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4 attend.

Afternoon dismissal time for all grades has returned to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 2:30 p.m. on Friday.