Frequently Asked Questions

The first day of school for students will be Monday, August 14, 2023. Classes at the Elementary School begin at 7:50 AM and end at 2:55 PM. Classes at the Middle School and High School begin at 8:00 AM and end at 3:05 PM.  

Yes, the district intends to host open houses with no COVID-19 restrictions prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year. The dates and times will be posted in the near future

No, unfortunately, every risk cannot be mitigated, but the District will constantly monitor the situation including the number of positive cases, and follow any guidance from the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. The well-being of our students, teachers, and families is our top priority.

Yes, the district will provide bus transportation. All buses will be sprayed and sanitized on a regular basis.

As per District Policy 1.20WF, students are not required to wear masks or face-coverings while riding in any school-provided transportation, but of course, they may do so if they choose. If a student wants to wear a mask and forgets their face-covering, the bus will have extra face masks available. The mask policy is linked here.

• CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:

  • Children and teens aged 6 months–17 years

  • Adults aged 18 years and older

• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you have recovered from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.

• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.

• COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data.

• Last updated on March 31, 2023

No; however, students and staff members should stay home if they are sick.  If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 or develop a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms that could be COVID-19, it is recommended that you get tested. 

First and foremost, if a student is ill, then they should not come to school. If a student is sent to school ill or becomes ill while at school, the school nurse will screen the student. If the student has a temperature of 100.4 or over, the student will be isolated immediately and sent home.   

Students who are sent home with COVID-19 symptoms should be taken to get tested for COVID-19. If a student tests positive, they will be placed in isolation and the following guidance provided by the ADH will be adhered to: Isolation Guidance 

When the child does return to school, he/she will check in with the school nurse before returning to his/her classroom. 

Parents should immediately contact the District's designated Point of Contact (POC), Deborah Hughes, at 479-386-3410 to inform the district and receive further guidance. Parents should follow the guidance from their physician and the Arkansas Department of Health as well as communicate with their child's school to discuss and prepare for the child's to return to school.  

The state no longers requires contact tracing so no parents will be notified if a student in their child's classroom tests positive for COVID- 19.  

The West Fork School District is following the linked  guidance provided by the CDC as it pertains to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Wear a mask when recommended, based on the COVID-19 Community Level for your county. 

No. Face Masks are not mandated by the West Fork School District unless there is an Isolation involved. The mask policy is linked here. 

Visitors will not be required to wear a mask while at school or at school events for the 2023-24 school year. The district will have extra face coverings in the event that a visitor forgets his/her and wants to wear one. 

Parents who want their students to wear masks at school will be asked to provide them with their own masks. Each school building and bus will have extra disposable face coverings in the event a student forgets his/her face masks or a parent cannot provide one.  

Face shields may be worn by employees or students but are not required.   

The district expects the 2023-24 school year to be as "normal" as it was prior to COVID-19.   

The WFSD  has always welcomed parents in our buildings during the school day; however, visitors will only be allowed in the reception areas of each building unless otherwise approved. Additionally, our schools plan on allowing parents to eat with their children in our buildings or at designated locations for the 2023-24 school year. 

The best way to communicate with my child's school is by calling the office to provide messages or get questions answered and concerns addressed. Additionally, parents may visit their child's school office to handle business that can't be handled over the phone. The school office numbers are as follows:

Elementary School - 479-839-2231, ext.2033

Middle School - 479-839-2231, ext. 3039

High School - 479-839-2231, ext. 4030

Yes, the district will offer in-person P/T conferences for the 2023-24 school year. Additionally, buildings may also offer virtual conferences or schedule phone conferences to meet the needs of our parents and guardians.

Yes, the West Fork School District enjoys hosting events for our students, parents, and community and looks forward to some normalcy again. Besides instilling a sense of pride in our school and community, the district feels strongly that such events/activities provide important developmental experiences that enrich a student's education and entire life. The district will resume all pre-COVID-19 school events and activities for the 2023-24 school year, which include Elementary Music Programs, Fall Carnival, Parent & Grandparent Days Meals, EAST Nights Out, Content Area Nights, Club Banquets, Awards Nights, Evening Fundraising Events, NHS Induction Ceremonies, PTO Meetings, and etc.  

Yes, all extracurricular activities will take place for the 2023-24 school year as they did pre-COVID-19.

Yes.  Students in K-6 will have recess daily.

Yes, the district will be allowing field trips as it did pre-COVID-19. 

Yes, the district will allow indoor large group gatherings such as pep rallies and assemblies. 

School meals for the 2022-23 school year (breakfast & lunch) will no longer be provided free of charge to all students; however, all parents are strongly encouraged to apply for free or reduced meal prices for their school-aged children by completing an online or paper application. Feel free to contact Mrs. Tiller at 479-839-2231, ext. 5001 at the District's Administration if you have any questions or need assistance in completing the application.  Families that qualify will be notified and will receive either free or reduced-price meals. Meal prices for students that do not qualify are as follows:

Elementary School - $1.50 for breakfast; $3.00 for lunch

Middle School  - $1.50 for breakfast; $3.10 for lunch

High School - $1.50 for breakfast; $3.10 for lunch

Extra milk - 50 cents Extra juice - 30 cents 

This answer will vary between buildings. 

Elementary School 

Breakfast - All elementary students will report to the cafetorium for breakfast.  After eating, they will be escorted to their designated locations.

Lunch - students will eat in the ES lunchroom; however, eating times will be staggered by grade levels and times to limit the number of students eating in the lunchroom at the same time.

Middle School

Breakfast - All 5th and 6th graders will report to the cafeteria for breakfast.  7th and 8th graders will get a grab-and-go breakfast and go to their designated breakfast classrooms.

Second Breakfast - All students will have the opportunity to have a grab-and-go second breakfast after the first block, daily.

Lunch - All 5th and 6th graders will eat together in the cafeteria during one lunch period; all 7th and 8th graders will eat together in the cafeteria in a second lunch period.

High School 

Breakfast - when students arrive at school before 7:45, they will report to the cafeteria where they will have the opportunity to eat breakfast.

Second Breakfast - All students will have the opportunity to have a grab-and-go second breakfast after the first block, daily.

Lunch - All students, during their scheduled lunch period, will eat in the cafeteria. 

Water bottle filling stations are available at all school buildings.

The WFSD  has always welcomed parents in our buildings. Additionally, our schools plan on allowing parents to eat with their children in our buildings or at designated locations for the 2023-24 school year.

Sanitation and cleanliness will be a high priority for our district as we return to school. We will work with our custodial staff to comply with cleaning, sanitation, and safety directives from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Those actions include the following.

• Janitorial services should distribute wastebaskets, disinfectant wipes/sprays, and CDC-approved hand sanitizer to every office, classroom, and school bus, so that these materials can be used by students and employees. 

• Signage about frequent hand-washing, cough etiquette, and nose-blowing should be widely posted, disseminated, and encouraged through various methods of communication.

• Janitorial staff will use the CDC guidance on cleaning (for example...frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, playground equipment, etc.) and restrooms will be cleaned continuously throughout the school day). 

• Finally, the district has purchased portable disinfecting foggers for each school building and the athletic department that will be used daily after school, practices, or events for deeper disinfecting. Additionally, a hand-held disinfecting fogger was purchased for the transportation department to use on its buses in the evenings after they return from their routes and in the mornings after the buses have unloaded our students. 

Yes, WFSD encourages students to do this if they choose. Additionally, the district will ensure that each classroom has bottles of sanitizer and disinfectant wipes/sprays.