Community input sought in Fort Smith Public School superintendent search

Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) is looking for community input to help guide the process to find the next superintendent of schools for the district. The survey is open to students, parents, staff, and the community.

The district, with the help of McPherson Jacobson LLC, the search company helping the district find a new superintendent, has developed a brief survey that stakeholders should complete by Feb. 18.

The survey is available at this link.

“The community’s input will help guide the selection process and ensure that the district finds a leader who best aligns with the needs of its students, staff, and community,” noted a news release on the survey.

The Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education agreed during a special called meeting Feb. 3 to expedite the search for a new superintendent of schools, setting a Feb. 20 deadline for applications. Board President Dalton Person told the board during the Jan. 27 board meeting that Superintendent Dr. Terry Morawski submitted his resignation Jan. 17 with his last day to be June 30.

McPherson and Jacobson met with the board Feb. 3 to discuss criteria for candidates for the position and steps that would be taken to fill the position by July 1.

The FSPS Board of Education has stated it hopes everyone in the community from staff to families to community members will take part in the survey, which is one of the first steps in finding the superintendent.

“It is open to everyone,” said Allan Marshall, district chief communications and engagement officer. “I think that the goal is having input from all key stakeholders, which is important for the Fort Smith Public Schools. We hope that the participation is high for the survey because it is vitally important to hear from our stakeholders and community about the new superintendent.”

The survey asks about the perceived top qualities of the school district and what critical issues should be a focus of the superintendent. Respondents are able to rank characteristics the board should consider when looking at candidates. It also asks open-ended questions regarding what skills the superintendent should have, significant challenges the new superintendent will face, and great things about the community.

“It is important that all stakeholders in the school district have the opportunity to provide input on this critical decision,” said School Board President Dalton Person. “We’re hoping for a good cross-section of respondents from across the community that the board can then review and consider as it enters the next stage of the superintendent search process.”

This is the third time in the past eight years that the FSPS has had to fill the top administrative position. Dr. Benny Gooden, who was the district superintendent for 30 years, retired in 2016. He was first hired as FSPS superintendent in 1986. Dr. Doug Brubaker was hired as the superintendent in December 2016, starting his career with the district on Jan. 18, 2017. He left at the end of 2020 to take the superintendent position of Texarkana, Texas, Independent School District earlier Tuesday. Morawski, who had served as the district’s deputy superintendent since 2018, took over the position Jan. 4, 2021.