Fox High School is expected to have a new sound system in place at the Gerald O’Connor Stadium when classes resume next month.
The Fox C-6 School District Board of Education agreed to pay $26,897 to Elite Technology Solutions of St. Peters to install the new system.
Fox High athletic director Scott Leuthauser said the system’s speakers have been on back order and were scheduled to be delivered and installed on Monday, after the Leader deadline.
Leuthauser said he didn’t know how old the sound system was but it stopped working in August 2023. He said he didn’t know how old the system was, but he believes it may have been updated in 2012 when field turf was installed.
He said it was difficult for the school not to have a working sound system at the athletic stadium last school year.
“It was eye opening understanding the importance of an effective and efficient sound system,” Leuthauser said. “A functioning sound system provides a communication platform that is essential for organized events. In this case, it provides communication for a facility that has the ability to host thousands of people. This is often overlooked. Scenarios include, but are not limited to, any potential safety concerns, communicating an emergency action plan for sudden severe weather, recognition of personnel and programs, announcements for any event and sound and music projection.”
Leuthauser said Crystal City activities director Ken Jones provided a portable sound system for one of the school’s first football games last school year, and Fox High parent John Pozzoli provided a portable system for many events in the stadium throughout the rest of the school year.
“Mr. Pozzoli is passionate about the district and giving the students and community the best experience possible,” Leuthauser said. “I also want to note that Mr. Ken Jones, the Crystal City activities director, allowed Fox to borrow his equipment immediately for the opening game. My gratitude for these two gentlemen is unmeasurable.”
Leuthauser said the new system will be heard better throughout the stadium because it will be mounted on the press box.
“It will allow proper distribution of sound to create an enhanced sound experience and a more effective communication tool,” he said.
He also said the system has a compact mixer that will allow for better sound distribution for music application and public announcing and increase the lifespan of the system. The new system also has an antenna extension allowing for an increased range of wireless microphones, a wired desktop microphone and digital signal processing amps that will increase how long the speakers will function.
Fox school board members awarded the contract for the sound system to Elite Technology Solutions on March 19. The company submitted the lowest of four bids, according to board documents.