The Fox C-6 School District recently added three more asphalt replacement projects to its list of construction work to be completed over the summer.
Board of Education members voted unanimously May 13 to pay Spencer Contracting of Arnold $585,638.83 to fix the parking lots at Ridgewood Middle School and Lone Dell Elementary School, which are both just outside of Arnold city limits, and Antonia Elementary School.
“This is very much needed at all three buildings,” Superintendent Paul Fregeau told the board members.
Kevin Piel, Fox C-6 director of maintenance, said Spencer is expected to start working at the three schools in June or July, and all three parking lots should be completed by the end of July.
He said all three lots are in rough condition and riddled with potholes.
“Fresh asphalt will be smooth and cut down on possible damage to vehicles and injuries to staff and students,” Piel said.
It was the second round of asphalt projects the board has approved for this summer.
In December, the board agreed to pay $1,260,550 to Ford Asphalt of Bridgeton for asphalt replacement projects at the Fox schools campus and the Fox C-6 Service Center and bus lot, all in Arnold. The Fox campus is home to a high school, middle school and elementary school, as well as the Bridges Alternative School, Central Office and Rickman Auditorium. However, no asphalt work is needed at Rickman Auditorium because some was completed there last summer.
Piel said when the district was on spring break from March 17-21, Ford Asphalt completed work on the access road off Lonedell Road behind the Fox campus, on the student parking lot around the Fox High stadium and on the far back side of the high school’s lot near the woodshop and 700 building.
Piel said the Fox district has a total of 2,962,432 square feet of asphalt at all its buildings, which includes 11 elementary schools, four middle schools and two high schools, as well as the alternative school, Fox C-6 Service Center, Central Office and Rickman Auditorium.
He said district officials decide each year which parking lots need to be repaired or replaced based on the condition of each lot.
Piel said the district plans to schedule asphalt replacement projects at Sherwood and Rockport Heights elementary schools in Arnold, Guffey Elementary School in the Fenton area and Hodge Elementary School in Imperial in 2026.