School Board Meeting Recap: August 25, 2025

Mr. Mahan, FSPS Superintendent, presented on the Community Noise Mitigation Grant Program, which is funded by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) within the U.S. Department of Defense. The program has allocated $75 million for noise mitigation efforts, with $18.7 million designated for areas near Guard or Reserve installations. Fort Smith Public Schools qualifies for this designation. The two locations selected for noise mitigation, based on proximity to the airport, are Carnall Elementary and Orr Learning Academy. The district is responsible for 10% of the total grant, and since FSPS is eligible for $4.3 million in funding, the district's cost share would be approximately $435,000. Next steps include entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Fort Smith, with the project expected to begin in December 2025 and be completed by December 2026. The Board approved the district’s collaboration with the City on this noise mitigation grant.

Chief Financial Officer Charles Warren presented the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. He summarized the fiscal year 2024-2025 activity and presented the proposed financials for 2025-2026. The Board adopted the 2025-2026 district budget and authorized the administration to make any necessary adjustments for final submission to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) of Arkansas.

Christopher Tecmire, the Supervisor of Purchasing, provided an update on the district’s search for an Identity & Fraud Protection provider in response to the recent cybersecurity incident. He explained the process of evaluating and selecting an identity theft protection company, noting that Aura was chosen for three key reasons: ease of use, required census data (needed to set up the service for employees), and the flexibility for customers to upgrade their services easily. The implementation is scheduled for October 1, and the initial term will last for one year. After this period, the district will reassess whether to make these services a permanent benefit.

Joe Velasquez, FSPS Construction Project Manager, presented an update on various district construction projects. Representatives from contracted companies provided details on several ongoing or planned projects across the district, including roof replacements at Southside High School and Ramsey Middle School, repaving of the Service Center bus parking, Phase 1 of upgrades to elementary school playgrounds, and the rerouting of drainage at Peak Innovation Center. The schools included in Phase 1 of the playground replacement cycle are Ballman, Barling, Euper Lane, Fairview, Park, and Tilles. The total cost for all projects combined is $7,487,609.19.

Krystle Smith, Supervisor of Special Programs, presented updated Advanced Placement (AP) data. AP exams are standardized tests designed to assess how well students have mastered the content in their specific AP courses, with scores of 3, 4, or 5 indicating college readiness. Students at both high schools showed improvements in several AP courses, and the district exceeded the state average in multiple subjects. Students who scored a 3, 4, or 5 on their AP exams collectively saved approximately $285,855 per credit hour, before even setting foot on a college campus. Dr. Jones, the Director of Secondary Education, then updated the district’s ACT scores. The district has shown improvement across all subject areas, with a composite score of 19.6, above the state average. The plan for continued improvement includes administering the PreACT, offering ACT summer camps, inviting students with scores between 16 and 18 to attend the summer camp, and possibly providing an ACT prep class.