Fort Smith Public Schools make superintendent move earlier than planned

Fort Smith Public Schools new superintendent will begin earlier than expected. The FSPS Board of Education voted during a special called meeting Tuesday (April 15) to name Martin Mahan as acting superintendent, effective immediately.

The school board voted April 8 to negotiate a contract with Mahan, 57, as the next superintendent after interviewing him and two other candidates a week earlier.

The board approved Mahan’s contract Tuesday night with a start date of July 1. The three-year contract goes through June 30, 2028, and stipulates an annual salary of $225,000 with $1,000 a month for a vehicle allowance. The district will pay all expenses of the vehicle, including fuel, insurance of maintenance, according to the contract.

No additional compensation was stipulated by the board for the approximate 10 weeks Mahan will serve as acting superintendent, according to Allan Marshall, FSPS chief communications and engagement officer.

Mahan’s contract as deputy superintendent has an annual salary of $168,445.79. Dr. Terry Morawski, who was the district’s superintendent until Tuesday night, had an annual salary of $253,838.98, with semi-monthly compensation of $10,576.62, according to his most current contract.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board also agreed to a separation agreement with Morawski, effective immediately.

“With the appointment of Mr. Mahan as the next superintendent, the board felt that it was in the best interest of the district to effectuate a clean transition from Dr. Morawski’s tenure to Mr. Mahan as acting superintendent through the end of the school year. On a personal level, I will miss working with Dr. Morawski and appreciate his commitment to FSPS.  We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors,” FSPS School Board President Dalton Person said in a statement.

The school board accepted Morawski’s resignation in January with the understanding he would work through the end of his contract, June 30. He was superintendent since Jan. 4, 2021.

“Dr. Morawski’s separation agreement maintains this, as he is to provide consulting services to the district and answer questions or calls from Mr. Mahan through June 30,” Person said.

The separation agreement states that Morawski will receive $20,000 to act as a consultant for the district through June 30 in lieu of the remainder of his salary and benefits as superintendent, Person said. He will also receive all accrued but unused paid vacation days through April 15.

The early separation idea developed after Mahan was selected as superintendent, Person said. It would not have been possible if the new hire was from outside of the school district, he added.

“Mr. Mahan has served as deputy superintendent for several years and, in my conversations with him, was comfortable going ahead and stepping into the role of superintendent. It simply didn’t make a lot of sense for Morawski to remain here if the next boss was already here and comfortable stepping into the role early,” Person said.

The separation agreement should save the district approximately $32,883, according to the district.