Frequently Asked Questions

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

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.

Upon receiving guidance from the Arkansas Department of Education on August 29, 2023, the District will no longer follow CDC guidance, but instead, we will follow our current district guidelines, which state the following: “Kids must stay home if they have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, and must stay home for 24 hours after the symptoms resolve (without the aid of medication). PLEASE DO NOT send a sick child to school. They will be sent home.”

Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be asked to wear a mask upon their return to school. Additionally, it will no longer be necessary to contact Mrs. Hughes, the District’s Point of Contact, for anything related to COVID-19.

Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be asked to wear a mask upon their return to school. Additionally, it will no longer be necessary to contact Mrs. Hughes, the District’s Point of Contact, for anything related to COVID-19.

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.

Upon receiving guidance from the Arkansas Department of Education on August 29, 2023, the District will no longer follow CDC guidance, but instead, we will follow our current District guidelines, which state the following: “Kids must stay home if they have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, and must stay home for 24 hours after the symptoms resolve (without the aid of medication). PLEASE DO NOT send a sick child to school. They will be sent home.”

Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be asked to wear a mask upon their return to school. Additionally, it will no longer be necessary to contact Mrs. Hughes, the District’s Point of Contact, for anything related to 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. 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 plans to 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. 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 are expected to take place for the 2023-24 school year.

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

Yes, the district allows field trips that will help enrich a child’s education.

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

School meals for the 2023-24 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. Denny 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; $3.10 for lunch

Middle School – $1.50 for breakfast; $3.20 for lunch

High School – $1.50 for breakfast; $3.20 for lunch

Adults – $2.75 for breakfast; $4.65 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. Adult meal prices as as follows: Breakfast – $2.75; Lunch – $4.65

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.