Carthon appointed to Fort Smith School Board
by February 24, 2025 7:10 pm 1,403 views
The Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education at its board meeting Monday (Feb. 24) appointed Gregory Carthon to the school board, filling the seat left vacant when Talicia Richardson resigned from the board.
The board voted 5-1 in favor of Carthon. Board member Matt Blaylock voted against the appointment. No other candidates were discussed at the meeting. Eight candidates applied for the position with six of those meeting the criteria: Ashante Arnaud, Gregory Carthon, Daniel Williams, Yuri Richardson, Maria Martinez, and Eric Toran.
Carthon has worked with the City of Fort Smith Transit Department since 2016. He has been the department’s chief civil rights officer and communication liaison since 2022.
“I want to serve as a Fort Smith Public School board member to support the development of policies and initiatives that enhance educational opportunities for all students,” Cathon said in his application. “As a parent of a student who attends Fort Smith Public Schools, I am deeply invested in the success of our district. I am passionate about fostering a strong partnership between schools, families, and the community to ensure a high-quality learning environment. By contributing my leadership skills and commitment to community service, I aim to help Fort Smith Public Schools achieve excellence and prepare students for a successful future.”
The Zone IV seat previously held by Richardson was left vacant when she resigned Jan. 27 amid the ongoing controversy regarding the reassignment of Felix Curry, former head football coach for Northside High School. Her term, representing Zone IV, was set to expire in 2026. A lawsuit filed Feb. 18 seeks to force the school district to reinstate Curry to his coaching job.
The board had 30 days to fill the seat, or the position could be filled by the Sebastian County Quorum Court. Cathron was appointed for about a three-month term. He will have to run for the position in the May 13 school elections.
Seats up for election in the annual school board elections include the At-Large Position VI held by Matt Blaylock and the At-Large Position VII held by Davin Chitwood. Candidate packets are available at the Sebastian County Clerk’s Office.
The filing period for the election opened Monday and will close at noon March 3.