Carnall, Spradling elementary schools in Fort Smith recommended for closure

The Fort Smith Public School Board on Monday (Dec. 15) heard a proposal from school administration to close Carnall and Spradling elementary schools. The “rightsizing” process has already resulted in the closing of Trusty and Orr elementary schools.

District officials previously said Carnall and Spradling were likely to be recommended for closure. The district held several staff and parent meetings in October and November to review the plan and seek input.

Carnall, located at 2524 Tulsa St., was built in 1962. The 49,073-square-foot building has 21 classrooms, five of which meet state standards. Fall enrollment was 154 students. Spradling, at 4949 Spradling Ave., was built in 1969. The 46,502-square-foot building has 20 classrooms, 11 of which meet state standards. Fall enrollment was 284 students.

According to the recommended plan presented Monday, Carnall would close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, which is this academic year. The students, based on address, shift to Beard or Cavanaugh elementary schools. Under the proposal, Beard’s student population would rise from 239 to an estimated 289, well below the capacity of 427. Cavanaugh’s student numbers would rise from 261 to 363, also below the capacity of 467.

Spradling also would close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, with students moving to Sutton elementary. Sutton’s estimated student population would rise from 308 to 583, below the building’s capacity of 701.

The board is set to vote on the closure recommendation during its Jan. 26 meeting. No job cuts are planned as a result of the building closures.

“The district did not lay off any staff when Trusty and Orr were rightsized a couple years ago and does not plan to lay off any staff if the board approves rightsizing Spradling and Carnall,” noted a district statement.

The district as of Monday, did not have an estimate on how much it will cost to close the buildings and prepare Beard, Cavanaugh, and Sutton for more students and staff.

“We currently do not have one (cost estimate) yet, as we don’t know how the buildings will be repurposed or if they will be sold,” noted a statement from the district. “If the board approves rightsizing the schools, the planning committee will meet to discuss recommendations regarding next steps for the facilities.”

The district established a Long-Range Facility Planning Committee in fall 2023 to develop a strategic plan for the district’s facilities. The “diverse group of experts” is made up of community representatives, administrative staff, educators and consultants, according to information provided by the district.

The focus of the group was on “creating a practical and adaptable roadmap to guide the district’s infrastructure development over the next five to 15 years,” according to the district.

A major part of this plan includes rightsizing the district’s schools over the next five years. Rightsizing is defined as improving “campuses at minimal cost while maximizing their suitability for current and future needs.” According to published district information key factors for rightsizing elementary schools include a building capacity of 625 students, a target utilization rate of 80% or 500 students, and the depreciated value of the buildings.