Fox C-6 School Board Highlights
ARNOLD, Mo. — Feb. 3, 2026
The Fox C-6 Board of Education approved the meeting agenda and moved through a slate of operational items Tuesday night, including a budget adjustment, updated facility usage fees, a contract for the Fox High School baseball/softball field turf project, and the purchase of 120 teacher laptops.
Agenda approved; no patron comments
- The board approved the Feb. 3 agenda without opposition.
- No patron comments were made during public comment.
Student ambassadors: fundraising, athletics, service projects
Fox High School student ambassador Jalen Barnhart highlighted “Fox Gives Back Night,” a school spirit week, and a canned food drive honoring the legacy of Art Casey. The effort raised $1,500 and collected 400 food items, donated to Gateway Food Pantry and New Hope Cares.
Notable Fox student achievements:
- Fox “Warriorettes” earned first place at regionals in multiple categories ahead of nationals.
- Wrestler Chandler Price broke the school’s all-time wrestling win record with his 140th victory (a record that had stood since 2002).
- Basketball player Izzy Frizzell scored her 1,000th career point in a win over Northwest.
- Fox 9th/10th grade wrestlers took first place at the Jackson Black Memorial Duels hosted at Fox.
Seckman High School student ambassador Owen Howell shared updates on a district-wide shoe drive benefiting Jackson Mentor, a Seckman student who has battled leukemia for most of his life. The effort has already collected more than 17,000 shoes during the initial phase.
Upcoming Seckman items mentioned:
- “Coaches vs. Cancer” basketball game — Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. vs. Ladue (proceeds support Coaches vs. Cancer).
- DECA competition participation — around 100 students competing at district level this Saturday.
- Student Council plans to run for first vice for state next year alongside Fox.
Superintendent: Proposed A–F grading system “sets public schools up for failure”
Superintendent Dr. Paul Fregeau delivered the most pointed remarks of the night, criticizing the governor’s executive order aimed at creating an A–F grading scale for Missouri public schools. Fregeau argued the proposal resembles a “normative” ranking system, meaning a fixed percentage of schools would receive top grades regardless of performance. He said the model would allow only 65% of schools to receive A’s and B’s, while the remaining 35% would be forced into C, D, or F categories.
- Fregeau compared it to driver’s licenses: instead of meeting a set standard, the state would decide how many “pass” each month regardless of performance.
- He said the system creates a narrative that a third of public schools are failing, while private schools receiving public funding would not be required to participate in the same rating system.
- He noted National School Counselor Appreciation Week and School Resource Officer Appreciation Day on Feb. 15 (with district social media recognition planned).
- Community feedback from safety meetings repeatedly asked for more SROs; district leaders emphasized bond funds cannot pay for personnel costs.
ImpactLife: blood drives surpass major milestone
Tim Schwab of ImpactLife reported that Fox and Seckman high schools have now surpassed 10,000 patients helped through ImpactLife donations. He highlighted the ongoing blood drive challenge created in 2021 to increase student participation.
Recent donation figures:
- Fox fall drive: 78 registered donors, 71 donations, helping up to 234 patients.
- Seckman fall drive: 172 registered donors, 167 donations, setting a post-COVID company record and breaking another record for total donations.
Upcoming drives mentioned:
- Friday, Feb. 13
- Thursday, March 5 at Seckman
Board approvals: budget update, facility fees, turf contract, laptops, bus driver recruiting help
Budget adjustment
- District leaders described the budget as a “snapshot in time” and said adjustments are needed as new information comes in.
- Some revenues (including railroad and utilities) are expected later, which could raise the fund balance.
Financial reports and bills
- The board received December 2025 financial reporting information and approved Group A bills.
- Administrators noted the district does not pay sales tax on certain purchases and has educator discounts through Amazon plus a credit card cash-back rebate program.
Facility usage fees (effective July 1, 2026)
- Updated facility usage guidance separates users into Group A (school-related), Group B (nonprofit feeder programs), and Group C (outside groups).
- Board members emphasized balancing community access with accountability.
Fox High School baseball/softball field project (ATG contract approved)
- Base price: $349,000
- Selected alternates: $31,700
- Total contract: $380,700 (under the $500,000 budgeted amount)
Selected options included:
- 10-year turf and base warranty ($5,000)
- Logo behind home plate ($5,400)
- Additional backstop netting option ($18,500)
- Softball pitching mat ($2,800)
Teacher laptops
- Purchase of 120 Acer teacher laptops at $825 each, totaling $99,000, as part of the district’s replacement cycle.
Bus driver recruitment support (AOS Staffing contract)
- Agreement includes a 39% markup on hourly wages for the first 520 hours worked.
- Officials said the cost is offset because the district would not pay benefits or retirement contributions during that period.
- Drivers may transition to district employment afterward at no cost.
Policies: first reading; second reading set for Feb. 17
The board approved a first reading of MSBA-recommended policy updates, with a second reading and adoption scheduled for Feb. 17, 2026. A board member noted appreciation for added language outlining how parents and community members can raise concerns about school library materials.
What’s Next
| Feb. 12 | Seckman “Coaches vs. Cancer” — 7 p.m. vs. Ladue |
| Feb. 13 | Blood drive |
| Feb. 17 | Policy second reading/adoption (board meeting) |
| Feb. 24 | Prop M open house — Fox Middle School, 6–8 p.m. |
| Feb. 26 | Prop M open house — Seckman Middle School, 6–8 p.m. |
| March 5 | Blood drive — Seckman |