Rumors on the ultimate fate of the Frontier Campus have been circulating the halls recently. The common story theorizes that the Frontier Campus was put into place only to ease the effects of overcrowding at Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley. Therefore, when Metea Valley eventually opens its doors to students, the Frontier Campus will close.
Reality is not as simple. “Even though no definite decisions have been made, I know [District 204 does] have a lease with the Fry Building where Frontier currently resides for 2 more years after this year,” stated Bob Mattingly, a counselor and administrator at Frontier. Based on Mattingly’s statement, the 2010 to 2011 school year would be Frontier’s last at its current Fry location, but the lease is not the only factor in deciding Frontier’s future.
“I do believe that a lot will depend on the number of students we get from WVHS the next two years as to whether we’ll still offer the ‘Frontier Experience’ to WVHS and Metea students at the present site, or whether those schools will have that ‘experience’ at their own school sites or another site which would draw more students,” stated Mattingly. Evidently, Frontier’s future heavily depends on how many Waubonsie seniors enroll in the coming two years. Neuqua students currently outnumber Waubonsie students by a significant margin. A higher enrollment rate from Waubonsie would seemingly increase Frontier’s value to all District 204 as a whole and also increase the likelihood that it would stay open.
Even in the short term Frontier could see some changes. According to Mattingly, the grant that keeps enrollment at Frontier to ten dollars plus book and class fees, may expire this year. In that case, College of DuPage classes would still be offered at the “regular tuition fee.”
Frontier Campus is a joint venture between Indian Prairie School District 204 and the College of DuPage. The joining of the two institutions allows Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley Seniors to sample the college atmosphere and class work while finishing their high school education. The Frontier Campus is located approximately 1000 feet east of Neuqua Valley’s Main Campus
By Jonathan Oskvarek, Echo news and web editor
