Patrons thank board with donations; public commenter urges improved budget projections after past actions tied to forecasts

Two public comments at the start of the March 25 meeting touched on community support and district finances.

Angela Barbarota, speaking on behalf of the Fox Education Association (FEA), told the board FEA would make a $500 donation to the Fox C‑6 Foundation in recognition of board service and a $250 contribution to the Fox C‑6 district care closet to support families affected by storms in Arnold on May 14. Barbarota said the donations reflected appreciation for the board’s voluntary service and support for community needs.

Later, Jim Chaloo spoke about district finances and urged the board to refine processes for making budget projections. Chaloo said a projection developed during the 2022–23 school year underestimated actual reserves: "the projected operating fund balance for the fiscal year 23, 24 was about $15,000,000. The actual fund balance was about $37,000,000," he said, and he linked earlier board actions — the 95¢ tax levy proposition, a rapid transfer of faculty, a proposal to move to a four‑day week and changes to after‑school volunteer use of buildings — to those earlier projections. Chaloo said more accurate revenue and expenditure forecasting could better serve the full school community.

In the financial report discussion, Chrissy Revcar told the board that the district is projecting its fund balance at about 25% at the end of the year; she also noted district staff are compiling damage reports requested by the state and governor after recent storms and that a total damage estimate is still in progress.

The board received the public comments and the financial packet; no formal board action resulted directly from the comments.