11/1/07
New school board member looks forward to new challenges
By Jerriod Grizzle

As the newest member of the Board of Trustees at Clarendon School District 1, Nannette Frye hopes her new position will allow her to give back to the community and use her business skills to prepare students for adulthood.

“Education is crucial for our community’s future,” said Frye. “The School Board is labor intensive and a demanding position.”

Frye said that one of the most important things to her is education.

“My mother and father encouraged us to read a lot and stressed that we do well in school. We also traveled to see the world outside of our community. Without education I would not have had my media career,” she said.

One initiative Frye supports is putting more computers in classrooms in CSD 1.

“I think it is very important to have computers in classrooms so that kids can see outside the walls of the school. I don’t advocate everyone growing up and leaving the community but it’s good to know what is outside so that you can gain your full potential,” she said.

Though she has served on numerous boards, being on the board of CSD 1 is her first involvement in Clarendon County.

“I’ve served on United Way boards most everywhere I’ve worked as well as state broadcasting and utility company boards. The board is my way of giving back to the community,” she said.

Although raised in Brookfield, Missouri, Frye stated that she feels that Clarendon County is home.

“It feels like I’ve always lived here. I grew up in a small rural community so the transition was easy for me,” she said. “Clarendon County is a great place to live because of the hospitality and good people.”

Frye received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri and moved to Manning in 1989 when her husband, Ed, became the Administrator of Clarendon Memorial Hospital.

“This is home to us. There is no question this is where we want to be,” she said.

Though Frye has had a residence in Clarendon County since 1989 things have not always been easy when it came to jobs.

“I worked in Florence for WBTW-TV, the CBS affiliate from 1988 to 2002 and so commuted every day,” she said.

Frye stated that her hardest times with her jobs came when she lived away from her husband.

“In 2002 I became the general manager of KATC-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana, the ABC affiliate and it was hard living so far away and missing my family,” she said.

Frye also lived in Savannah, Georgia where she worked as the General Manager for the ABC and the FOX affiliates there.

“I had an apartment and each weekend drove home to Summerton,” she said.

Frye lived in Savannah from May 2006 to November of that same year when she returned to Summerton.

Frye said that her career and working in many places has taught her a lot, and though she is semi-retired for now cannot see herself being fully retired. “I plan to run again for the school board when my appointed time is up,” she said.

Frye sees a lot of needs in Clarendon County such as an upscale restaurant, entertainment venues, and other businesses.

“I would love to see the community grow without losing the small town charm,” she said.

Frye loves the feel of her town and the surrounding community.

“When you move here the community encourages you to be a part of the family. New people come here and bring new skills and get involved. That is what is so great about this place. They become part of the future,” she said.