• (AIR) Parent/guardian Focus Group

      February 2025 Hello, Frontier and Union #38 Families,  The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has contracted with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct a district review of Frontier Regional and Union #38 Schools. The purpose of the district review is to provide formative and actionable feedback on district practices, enabling district leaders to reflect on progress and strengthen staff and student performance.  As part of this review, AIR will be conducting a virtual parent/guardian focus group on  Wednesday, 3/5/25 from 6:00-7:00pm EST  to gather perspectives on communication with families, opportunities for family involvement and leadership, opportunities for students within the district, and more. If you are interested in joining, please register ahead of time at  https://air-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/Hbf6mMYKTxqB-RVX7lRfog . ​ Sincerely, Darius Modestow,  Superintendent. 

    Monday, Feb 24 2025

  • 1/29/2025 Two Hour Delay

      ​January 29th,  2025 Good Morning, This is Superintendent Darius Modestow. Today is Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. Due to the snow amounts in higher elevations, we will be operating on a  two-hour delay  to the school’s starting times.   This includes Frontier Regional School, as well as Conway, Deerfield, Sunderland, and Whately Elementary Schools. Please adjust your schedules accordingly. Thank you,

    Wednesday, Jan 29 2025

  • Reaffirming our School's Commitment

      January ​22,  2025  Dear School Community, As we navigate the early days of a new presidential administration, it is impossible to ignore the anxiety and fear that some of the decisions and proposals are causing among members of our school community. First and foremost, I want to reaffirm that our schools are committed to being safe, supportive environments for every student. Regardless of individual political ideologies, we stand united in our mission to support all students and families, and we will not allow fear or division to take root here. Our schools are not the place for political battles, but rather sanctuaries for learning, growth, and mutual respect. It is also important to understand that, while federal changes such as revisions to Title IX or challenges to LGBTQ+ rights are troubling, Massachusetts state laws and our district’s own policies continue to offer robust protections. These safeguards are a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and equity, ensuring that every student is treated with dignity and respect while upholding the values that define our district. We understand that uncertainty and national shifts can resonate deeply, extending to the impact on friends and family across the country. In these times, we reaffirm our collective responsibility to support one another and uphold the values of equity, inclusion, and compassion that bind us together. Looking ahead, while we cannot foresee every challenge or change, our district’s mission remains unwavering. We are fortunate to have a dedicated School Committee, an exceptional administrative team, and passionate educators and support staff who are committed to working collaboratively to ensure the success and well-being of every student. Together, we will face the future with resilience and purpose. If you or your family require additional support or resources, please reach out to our school counselors or administrators. We are here to assist you. We are here to help. Thank you for being an integral part of this community and for your commitment to our shared mission. Sincerely, Darius Modestow,   Superintendent

    Wednesday, Jan 22 2025

  • Ensuring the Safety and Support of All Students

      January 2025 Dear Families, I want to address concerns that have arisen in our community regarding the potential for new immigration policies under the new presidential administration. We understand that these changes may create uncertainty or fear for some families, particularly concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in schools. Please rest assured: our schools are, and will continue to be, safe and supportive spaces for all students and families, regardless of their citizenship status . The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has made it clear that ICE recognizes schools as “sensitive locations”, where enforcement activities such as searches or arrests are not allowed. This includes school grounds, places where educational activities or events are taking place, and school bus stops during times when students are present. ICE can only conduct enforcement activities at these locations under special circumstances or with prior approval. The likelihood of ICE conducting enforcement activities at schools is extremely small. However, our school administration has reviewed guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has taken proactive steps to ensure we are fully prepared to handle any scenario. What You Should Know: Schools Are Safe Spaces:  Our schools are committed to being safe and welcoming environments for all students and families, regardless of citizenship status. The politics of immigration will not be carried out in our school buildings. Support for Students:  If your child is feeling anxious or concerned, please encourage them to speak with their teacher, school counselor, or principal. We are here to listen, provide reassurance, and connect families with additional resources if needed. Resources and Guidance:  For those interested in learning more, DESE has provided detailed guidance regarding ICE activity and schools. You can find this information   here . If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to your school’s principal or directly to me. Handling ICE Requests:  If an ICE agent requests access to a student, the school will immediately contact the student’s parent or guardian, the superintendent, and the school’s legal counsel to discuss a plan of action. ICE agents will not be allowed to question or remove a student from school without a valid judicial warrant and parental consent. Any warrant presented will be carefully reviewed by legal counsel to ensure compliance with the law. While the likelihood of ICE activity in schools is minimal, we are steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment for every student. Regardless of your family's situation, you can trust that we are here to support you. Thank you for your partnership and for trusting us with your children’s education and well-being. Warm regards, Darius Modestow Superintendent

    Friday, Jan 17 2025

  • Family Night- come see Counted Out, a new documentar...

    The Frontier & Union 38 community is invited to a screening of the 2024 documentary,  Counted Out 6:00 PM January 28, 2025 Frontier Auditorium Free tickets are available through Eventbrite , linked HERE . This event is open to the public.  The film is 90 minutes. For families with children in grades K-5, there will be a presentation on the new math curriculum, Bridges in Mathematics, from 5:00-5:40, followed by pizza and conversation.  To register for the pre-film presentation, please sign up using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/tqa6duUMpdkGHgCu6 "In the 21st century, fueled by technology, data, and algorithms, math determines who has the power to shape our world...numeric literacy is a critical determinant of social and economic power. " Question?  Contact Lara.Ramsey@frsu38.org

    Monday, Jan 06 2025

  • Annual Letter for Weather Delays or Closures

      Hello, Frontier & Union #38 Elementary School Families, The Annual Weather Letter!   As the temperatures drop and snowflakes make their debut (this is the latest I’ve ever sent this letter), I wanted to take a moment to share our approach for weather-related delays and closures. Over the years, families have found this information helpful in understanding how and when decisions are made that greatly affect our personal and community schedules.    Below are my guidelines and an explanation of how weather-related decisions are made.   Guidelines for weather delays or closures: School closure decisions will be made as early as possible. On the morning of a weather closure or delay, I will do my best to have the decision made by 5:15 am with a robocall and email sent out by 5:30 am. I will also continue the practice of notifying our community the night before a day that we know will have at least a two-hour delayed opening with the understanding that there may be a morning update that leads to closure.  I have heard a lot of positive feedback on this practice as it allows families to begin planning on an interrupted schedule. If a school opening delay occurs, it will be a  2-hour  delayed opening.  All school closure days are made up at the end of the school year.  So, for each day the district closes school, we add a day of school in June.   How school closure decisions are made:   The Superintendent of Schools ultimately makes the decision to close or delay school due to inclement weather.  However, I consult with others, including the town road crews, to make the most informed decision possible.   During a storm, I will be in direct contact with each Highway Superintendent of the four towns to learn about the current conditions of the road and their capacity to keep roads safe for bus and car travel. I review the weather using multiple weather websites and news outlets and confer with other area superintendents on their analysis of the weather and the impact on travel to the schools. Our four towns and extended community of teacher residents and school choice families cover hundreds of miles of roads with large elevation ranges and a variety of surfaces from asphalt to graded dirt.  I will do my best to make the appropriate decision for school delay or closure,  However, if your situation conflicts with the district decision, please rely on your own judgment to keep you and your family safe.  Cold Weather Days: To stay consistent in cold weather decisions, I reference the following scale: Using NORA’s  wind chill safety chart  for cold weather. Cold Weather Advisory  At -15 to -24 degrees, including windchill.   The school will open as normal or delayed school opening if on the colder end of the scale, with warmer temperatures expected by mid-morning. Cold Weather Warning  At -25 degrees, including windchill  That's when we would close schools or delay if conditions are to improve drastically in the AM. Additional thoughts for families on weather events: Families should prepare a contingency plan in the event that there may be a need for a sudden early dismissal after the students are already at school. This doesn’t happen often, but it is best to have a plan for how your family will handle this situation. Parents of high school drivers or soon-to-be drivers:  Please talk to your children about driving in winter conditions.   School delays are designed to create time to properly clean cars of snow and ice and drive with more caution.   It is also a common practice among families not to allow younger drivers to have car privileges during or after winter weather events. Additionally, the high school suspends senior lunch driving privileges if road conditions are poor during lunch periods.   I wish everyone a safe and wonderful winter season! -Darius Modestow,   Superintendent 

    Monday, Dec 02 2024

  • Reminder, "Coffee and Conversation" Sessions

      There was an error on the sign-up sheet for the Coffee Dates in Conway and Sunderland, but the issue has now been corrected on the Google form. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused. I’ve reached out to those who had already signed up to address the mistake.  Thank you for your understanding. Darius   October 21, 2024 Reminder: "Coffee and Conversation" Sessions - We Want to Hear From You! Dear Frontier & Union #38 Community, This is a friendly reminder about our upcoming  "Coffee and Conversation" sessions  taking place from  October 28th to November 4th  as part of the District Strategic Plan development process. These informal gatherings are a great opportunity for you to share your thoughts, ask questions, and provide valuable input on the future direction of our schools. Below are the session dates and locations: Oct 28 : Sunderland Elementary, 8:30-9:00 am Oct 30 : Conway Grammar, 8:30-9:00 am Oct 31 : Deerfield Elementary, 8:30-9:00 am Nov 1 : Frontier, 7:45-8:15 am Nov 4 : Whately Elementary, 8:30-9:00 am Virtual Meeting : Oct 30, 6:00-7:00 pm (open to all stakeholders) – Click here to join the meeting To help us prepare the space for the number of attendees, please take a moment to  RSVP  for your preferred session by clicking the link below: RSVP for Coffee and Conversation Sessions Also, our  Family/Community   Survey is coming your way soon . It’s currently in the final draft stage and will be sent out in the coming weeks. We encourage everyone to take a few moments to share your thoughts and priorities for our district’s future. We look forward to hearing from you! Warm regards, Darius Modestow Superintendent

    Monday, Oct 21 2024

  • Bridge Closure Alert!

      May 29, 2024 Hello Frontier and Deerfield families, (and I added everyone else as you may drive this road in Deerfield)  This is a notice from the Town of Deerfield. MassDOT has closed the dry bridge on North Main Street ( over the railroad tracks just north of Hillside Road ) until further notice.  Please plan accordingly if you access Frontier from the north using the 5 & 10 route to N. Main route.     Darius Modestow, Superintendent 

    Wednesday, May 29 2024

  • Work Permits and Teen Employment Protection

      May 20th, 2024  Dear Families of High School Students,  As summer approaches and many of our teenagers prepare for summer jobs, please find the attached letter from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office regarding our roles in keeping students safe at their workplaces. Work permits required by all employers for workers under 18 years of age, may be obtained  online  and processed at my office, located at the entrance to the middle school at Frontier.   Setting the stage for a safe and fun summer! Sincerely, Darius Modestow, Superintendent   

    Monday, May 20 2024

  • The Annual Weather Letter.

                                        The Annual Weather Letter Hello, Frontier & Union #38 Elementary School Families, As I felt the chill in the air today and heard the forecast for possible snow on Tuesday night, it reminded me that it's time for The Annual Weather Letter. Below are my guidelines and an explanation of how weather-related decisions are made.   Feedback on this now annual announcement has been very positive as families find it helpful to understand the decision-making process. Guidelines for weather delays or closures: School closure decisions will be made as early as possible. On the morning of a weather closure or delay, I will do my best to have the decision made by 5:15 am with a robocall and email sent out by 5:30 am. I will also continue the practice of notifying our community the night before a day that we know will have at least a two-hour delayed opening with the understanding that there may be a morning update that leads to closure.  I have heard a lot of positive feedback on this practice as it allows families to begin planning on an interrupted schedule. If a school opening delay occurs, it will be a  2-hour  delayed opening.  How school closure decisions are made:   The Superintendent of Schools ultimately makes the decision to close or delay school due to inclement weather.  However, I consult with others, including the town road crews, to make the most informed decision possible.   During a storm, I will be in direct contact with each Highway Superintendent of the four towns to learn about the current conditions of the road and their capacity to keep roads safe for bus and car travel. I review the weather using multiple weather websites and news outlets and confer with other area superintendents on their analysis of the weather and the impact on travel to the schools. Our four towns and extended community of teacher residents and school choice families cover hundreds of miles of roads with large elevation ranges and a variety of surfaces from asphalt to graded dirt.  I will do my best to make the appropriate decision for school delay or closure, However, if your situation conflicts with the district decision, please rely on your own judgment to keep you and your family safe.  Cold Weather Days: How are ‘cold days' determined, or when is it too cold to go to school? To stay consistent in cold weather decisions, I reference the following scale: Using NORA’s  wind chill safety chart  for cold weather. Cold Weather Advisory  At -15 to -24 degrees, including windchill.   The school will open as normal or delayed school opening if on the colder end of the scale, with warmer temperatures expected by mid-morning. Cold Weather Warning  At -25 degrees, including windchill  That's when we would close schools or delay if conditions are to improve drastically in the AM. Note other districts may not follow a set of guidelines for cold weather decisions. ​  Additional thoughts for families on weather events: Families should prepare a contingency plan in the event that there may be a need for a sudden early dismissal after the students are already at school. This doesn’t happen often, but it is best to have a plan for how your family will handle this situation. Parents of high school drivers or soon-to-be drivers:  Please talk to your children about driving in winter conditions.   School delays are designed to create time to properly clean cars of snow and ice and drive with more caution.   It is also a common practice among families not to allow younger drivers to have car privileges during or after winter weather events. Additionally, the high school suspends senior lunch driving privileges if road conditions are poor during lunch periods.   I wish everyone a safe and wonderful winter season! -Darius Modestow,   Superintendent 

    Monday, Nov 20 2023