Fox C-6 Board Recognizes State Champion, Honors Retiring Administrator, and Reviews District Updates

The Fox C-6 School District Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 2, included celebration, gratitude, financial updates, school safety planning, communications discussion, and preparation for the coming school year.

The evening opened with Superintendent Dr. Paul Fregeau highlighting recent legislative developments, noting that several proposals affecting public education did not pass during the most recent session. He said no major property tax legislation passed, school choice laws did not significantly change, open enrollment did not pass, and several other education-related proposals also failed to advance.

But the strongest moments of the meeting came when the district paused to recognize personal achievement and public service.

A State Championship for Fox High School

Fregeau announced that Fox High School student Gavin Pecoraro had become a Class 5 state champion in the javelin throw. Pecoraro won the state title with a 57.68-meter throw, besting his previous personal record by nine meters and setting a new Fox High School record.

Fregeau said Pecoraro stepped up on his final throw to secure the championship, calling the achievement a rare and impressive moment for the district.

Dr. Tammy Cardona Honored Before Retirement

The board also recognized Dr. Tammy Cardona, assistant superintendent of secondary education, during her final board meeting before retirement. Cardona’s career and work in the district drew emotional praise from administrators and board members, especially for the care she brought to one of the district’s most difficult roles.

Fregeau said that when he thinks of Cardona, he thinks first of her heart for students. He noted that she served as a hearing officer, a role that often required her to make difficult decisions when students faced serious discipline consequences.

He described the emotional weight of those decisions, saying Cardona cared deeply for students even when she had to make hard calls. That concern, he said, helped drive changes to the district’s alternative programming.

Cardona was praised for helping develop and advance the Bridges Program, which gives students on long-term suspension an opportunity to continue learning in person rather than being left only with online work. Fregeau said the change came after hearing from parents that students already struggling with discipline and decision-making often had an even harder time succeeding when school moved entirely online.

Board members echoed that praise, saying Cardona’s work showed both personal strength and compassion. Several said she had the difficult responsibility of delivering consequences while still staying connected to students and families.

One board member said families sometimes came into hearings angry or upset, but Cardona continued to show care for the student even through hard decisions. Another pointed directly to the Bridges Program as one of her major accomplishments, saying the program was about giving students the best opportunity possible.

Registration Reminder and Financial Updates

The meeting also included reminders for families as the district looks ahead to the next school year. Fregeau encouraged parents and guardians to complete online registration, noting that the district was 84 days away from the first day of school.

Financial matters were also a major part of the meeting. District officials reviewed bond-related resolutions following voter approval of Prop M. The district’s $48 million general obligation bond sale was described as successful, with strong investor interest. Officials said the district received orders for more than $400 million worth of bonds, allowing interest rates to be lowered during the pricing process.

The board also reviewed a certificates of participation transaction connected to energy improvements. Officials said the bond proceeds will allow the district to begin making improvements funded through Prop M, while maintaining the same tax rate.

District leaders thanked the finance team and outside partners for their work on the bond process, noting that the work is complicated and requires significant preparation outside the normal day-to-day operations of running a school district.

The board also reviewed monthly financial reports and payment of bills. During the financial discussion, district officials noted that the next meeting will include the budget for the coming school year. The discussion included a reminder that school districts continue to work with uncertain numbers, including shifting expectations for state and federal funding.

That uncertainty was presented as an important part of the budget process, especially as districts prepare spending plans while waiting on final figures from state and federal sources.

School Safety, Communications, and Curriculum

School safety was another significant item. The board approved an agreement with Centegix for a districtwide crisis alert system. The system will provide employees with badges that can be used to call for help inside school buildings and other district facilities.

District officials said the system will be funded through Prop M and is expected to be rolled out at the start of the next school year, with all buildings anticipated to be up and running by October.

The badges will allow staff members to press three times for a school-level alert, such as assistance from the office or nurse, while a higher-level emergency alert can notify law enforcement and first responders. Officials said the system will cover all district facilities, including garages and outdoor areas.

The board also approved the district’s 2026 communications and community engagement plan, presented by JP Prezzavento. The plan focuses on external communication, internal communication, community engagement, telling the district’s story, and continuous improvement.

Prezzavento said the goal of the communications team is to support the district’s mission and share consistent, accurate messages with families, staff, students, community partners, and residents. He also highlighted the district’s growing digital reach, including millions of social media views across Facebook and Instagram.

Board members praised the plan but also encouraged the district to keep looking for ways to reach residents who may not currently have students in the schools. The board discussed the importance of showing taxpayers how district efforts, investments, and student success are connected.

The meeting also included a general curriculum update involving high school government and advanced English language arts at the middle and high school levels. District leaders said the curriculum work remains tied to Missouri Learning Standards and state priority standards, with units of instruction designed to guide teachers while keeping the district’s approach consistent across grade levels.

The advanced English language arts discussion focused on strengthening alignment from middle school through high school, increasing rigor where appropriate, and better preparing students for college-level expectations, advanced coursework, ACT standards, and AP-level work.

The board also heard updates related to testing and academic data, including the district’s use of benchmark assessments to help teachers guide instruction and identify student needs.

By the end of the meeting, the board had recognized a state champion, honored a retiring administrator, moved forward with safety improvements, reviewed financial matters, approved communication planning, and continued work on academic standards.

The meeting showed a district looking both backward and forward: celebrating the people who helped shape Fox C-6, while preparing for the students, families, and staff who will return in August.