Fort Smith School Board hopeful says mascot issue is over, district needs ‘new thoughts and ideas’

Challenger Brian Means will face two opponents for the Zone 2 position on the Fort Smith School Board this September.

The medical device representative for Zimmer Biomet says he is ready to look beyond the issues of the past, particularly the Southside mascot conflict that divided much of the community last July.

Susan McFerran was the Board member, who motioned to remove the “Dixie” fight song and Rebels mascot. She was joined by six others for a unanimous 7-0 vote. Since that time, Fort Smith voters have removed two of the seven and McFerran, who ran unopposed in 2013, now faces Means and challenger Marc Werschem for her position.

While Werschem has been critical of the Board’s decision, Means showed no signs that he was interested in revisiting the issue in a recent interview with Talk Business & Politics. (Link here for the recent interview with McFerran.)

“The school board’s decision on the Southside mascot was a tough one to make, and by tough I mean volatile,” Means said. “Half of the city loves you, half of the city hates you no matter if you are/were for or against the change. I do think it is most important to realize that the decision has been made. The Fort Smith Schools have other issues, very important issues, to focus on right now and going forward.”

Some of those issues include finding a new superintendent, improving performance ratings, and maintaining and upgrading existing schools as well as determining “where and how to grow.”

“I would love to be a part of that – to help make an impact on the success story of revitalizing Fort Smith Schools,” he said.

TB&P: A bit on your background: what do you want voters to know about your work history, education and qualifications for the school board position?

Means: I grew up in Little Rock and graduated from Pulaski Academy. As a child I experienced both the public and private school settings which helped broaden my experiences and highlight the differences that surround each.

I attended the University of Arkansas and received a bachelors degree majoring in Administrative Management and Marketing Management. I have been in a management or leadership position for the majority of my working career, including while attending college.

For the past 10 years, I have successfully owned my own business in medical device sales. It has led me to be a decision maker not only running the day to day operations of my business but the long term strategic aspects as well – from accounting, to human resources, finance as well as sales. This gives me the perspective needed to make well-rounded, sound decisions. Due to the ever-changing environment of medical sales, I decided to sell my business to a private company last year and take a different position but continuing on in medical sales.

The career path that I have chosen has taught me to be flexible in a world where change is constant but necessary. You can’t continue to do the same things over and over again and get different results.

I have been married for 20 years and 16 of those years have been spent in Fort Smith. We have a 19-year-old son who graduated Southside High School and a son that is an upcoming 9th grader. We started our children in the Fort Smith Public School district, and after a short time in private school, decided the opportunities in Fort Smith public schools outweighed what they were receiving in a private setting.

TB&P: What are the top three issues you hope to address in your first term?

Issues such as responsible spending, education quality – 19 out of 25 schools in the Fort Smith School District received a C or D grade on their report card as determined by the Arkansas Department of Education. Another issue is updating and repairing the current ailing facilities. These issues need to be addressed to better serve our students. Operating on the same budget for 30 years makes it an extremely difficult task, but nonetheless needs to be corrected.

Overall, for me, the most important issue is bringing new thoughts and ideas to make Fort Smith Schools excel again. I have focused my adult life on raising my family and growing my career. My children have always been a part of the Fort Smith Public Schools, and we have participated in their experiences as best we could.

Now that my children are older and my work responsibilities lessened I have the time, desire and commitment to make a difference in this community that we call home.

TB&P: What are some of your proudest accomplishments and how do you feel they will help you in serving as a school board member?

My family and my career have been my proudest accomplishments. I have won many awards for outstanding performance and business leadership at several different positions through the years. With the distributorship, I received growth recognition awards for several years in a row. Before that a President’s Club award (finishing in the top 10% sales growth). These awards have helped highlight my strengths and achievements. Most of all, at every stage of my life and career, my ability to embrace change is what makes me able to adapt and overcome various challenges.

TB&P: What do you think the Board has done well? What are some areas for improvement?

The school board was faced with dealing with a very volatile subject and did the best it could to handle the changes that were placed in its lap. The changes have been made and it is now time to move forward. It is time to focus on the continuation of making Fort Smith Schools great.

TB&P: What should be the Board’s first focus after the new term begins?

The first order of business is finding a superintendent that is going to move Fort Smith Schools forward and upward (with) fresh new ideas that can make a difference in the short term as well as strategical. It’s going to be different than what has gone on in the past – a new exciting school district future to evolve with the growth of Fort Smith. I’d like to contribute and be a part of that.

The election is set for Sept. 20, with early voting to begin Sept. 13. Early voting sites are at the Sebastian County Courthouse and Greenwood City Hall.

Talicia Richardson and Greg Murray face each other in the at-large school board race. David Hunton is not seeking re-election. Link here for the Richardson interview with Talk Business & Politics and link here for the Murray interview.