Fort Smith School Board approves $15 million bond package for construction

In a narrow vote, the Fort Smith Public School Board on Monday (May 18) approved a $15 million bond package to support work that includes an estimated $5.4 million in Northside High School and Southside High roof repair, and more than $3 million in drainage work at the district’s Peak Innovation Center.

The bond issuance was developed by the district and Little Rock-based Stephens Inc. to cover what has been a growing list of maintenance, renovation, and special projects in the district. The bonds would be issued in late July, with the bond issue process would end Aug. 31, according to a schedule provided by the district. The estimated net interest rate is around 4.257%

“The Administration has provided a capital projects fund narrative in the past and has been exploring the need for a bond issue to start and complete necessary renovations and improvements in the District,” noted a district memo provided to school board members.

Following are the list of projects, and estimated costs, to be funded by the bond revenue.
Northside High School roof repair: $4.2 million
Peak Innovation Center drainage (phases 3 and 4): $3.25 million
Districtwide playground equipment: $2.35 million
Districtwide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning controls: $1.4 million
Southside High School roof repair: $1.2 million
Southside High School heating, ventilation, air-conditioning controls: $750,000
Southside High School cafeteria floor: $750,000
Woods Elementary/Chaffin Middle School parking areas: $400,000
Southside High School trophy case: $300,000
Northside High School parking and street work: $200,000
Chaffin Middle School paved court: $200,000

PEAK WORK, TROPHY CASE
The district recently filed a lawsuit against Fort Smith-based Turn Key Construction alleging “defects and deficiencies” in the construction of the Peak Innovation Center. The district spent at least $20.363 million, including millage funds, public and private grants, and other sources of funding to open the center in March 2022. The facility flooded soon after its opening, causing damages in and around the property.

The district in November 2025 approved work to study a phase 4 effort to address drainage at the center. The phase 1 and 2 work has a maximum cost of $866,000, according to the district, and the phase 3 work has a max cost of $679,000. Fort Smith-based engineering firm Mickle Griffin estimated that phase 4 costs could range between $2 million and $5 million.

Jeff Prewitt, principal at Southside High School, asked the board on Feb. 23 to approve moving forward with an estimated $300,000 plan, not including design costs, to rebuild a large trophy presentation area in the main entry area. He said “unintended consequences” of the high school renovation was the loss of space to display trophies and other achievements that were once in the building’s entry hall. Prewitt said many of the trophies are in storage. He said Southside’s “tradition of excellence deserves to be seen, not stored.”

The bond issuance was approved with a 4-1 vote. Board members Susan Krafft, Lynnet Lott, Maria Martinez, and Phil Whitaker voted for the measure. Board member Matt Garner did not support the bond issuance. During the bond discussion Garner asked why the district did not solicit bond issuance proposals from anyone other than Stephens Inc.

Board members Brittney Hall and Brad Harding were not in attendance.