Fort Smith school district to close elementary schools, hires athletic director

The Fort Smith School Board of Education on Monday (Feb. 2) voted to close Carnall and Spradling elementary schools as part of a “rightsizing” effort. Also, the district announced the hiring of Rusty Bush as director of athletics and activities.

Facing enrollment declines, the district embarked on a long-term facilities review which included working with a long-range planning committee of citizens who live in the district.

“Rightsizing is a strategic process that aligns school facilities with current and projected enrollment,” noted a district press release. “State funding for elementary schools is based on 500 students per school; however, enrollment at both campuses is well below that threshold. As of December 3, 2025, Carnall enrolled 152 students, and Spradling enrolled 275 students.”

The planning committee and district staff recommended the closure of Carnall and Spradling elementary schools. 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. Enrollment is around 151 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. Enrollment is around 282 students. The district’s plan is to move Carnall students to Cavanaugh and Beard elementary schools. The Spradling students would move to Sutton elementary.

The board voted 6-1 for the Carnall plan, and 6-1 to approve the Spradling plan. Board member Maria Martinez voted against both plans. Board members Brittney Hall, Brad Harding, Susan Krafft, Lynnett Lott, Dalton Person, and Phil Whiteaker voted for the plans.

With Tuesday’s board approval of the plan, the district administration will meet with parents and school staff about the transition. Link here for the Carnall plan and link here for the Spradling plan.

Sam Sicard, CEO of Fort Smith-based First Bank Corp. and a member of the planning committee, told the board before Tuesday’s vote that “no one likes closing a school,” but the proposal for the two elementary schools will help students in the long run.

“The thing we need to focus on and remember is that we’re not cutting education” Sicard told the board. “By rightsizing, we’re not cutting education, we’re cutting facilities overhead. In any business, just like with the school, when revenues and enrollment decline you have to make hard choices, but you don’t want to do things that affect the customer. … I would argue that doing this helps protect education, because it helps conserve resources and direct those in the most efficient manner.”

The district closed Trusty Elementary School and moved those students to other nearby schools at the end of the 2023-24 school year. In August 2024, the school board agreed to work toward closing Orr Elementary School at the end of the school year. Orr, located at 3509 Phoenix Ave., closed its doors at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Bush, according to a district press release, will begin the job of director of athletics and activities on Feb. 16. Bush succeeds Michael Beaumont who resigned effective Aug. 29, 2025. Beaumont’s starting salary was $92,985, and his salary was $113,279 when he resigned.

Bush has been head coach of the Alma High School football team since 2020. He was an assistant football coach in the Fort Smith district between 2006 and 2019. His experience also includes being assistant varsity football coach at Fort Smith’s Northside High School from August 2006 to 2019, assistant varsity football coach at El Dorado High School from August 2003 to 2006, and was assistant varsity football coach at Benton Junior High School in Benton, Ark., from August 1999 to 2023.

He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education (1999) from Henderson State University.

“I am extremely honored to be selected as the next Director of Athletics and Activities for Fort Smith Public Schools,” Bush said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the great team at the district, meeting the students, and supporting the district’s outstanding athletics and activities programs.”

Bush was selected from 10 applicants who were to be interviewed for the job.