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Transparency

District Budget Information

Four Factors of Funding

Four Factors of Funding

 

2026-2027 Budget Allocation

pie chart of fsps budget

 

Teacher Salary $70,761,065
Operating $87,080,288
Capital Projects $17,759,174
Debt Service $10,150,111
Federal Funds $16,154,526
Activity $0
Child Nutrition $10,484,469
  $207,554,764

 

Recent Board-Approved Actions

  • July 2026
    • Approved a second lein bond of a little over $15 million for necessary school repairs and building maintenance.
    • Approved moving forward with negotiations to let companies sponsor and buy naming rights for school football fields.
    • Approved Mr. Mahan's performance goals for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • August 2026
    • Adopted the upcoming school year's financial budget and authorized the administration to make necessary adjustments for state submission with a 7-0 vote.
    • Approved a resolution to settle a lawsuit with Felix Curry following an executive session, passing with a 7-0 vote.

Watch Mr. Mahan's Board Meeting Recap Videos Here

NOTE: If you have any suggestions for items to include on the transparency webpage, please email us at communications@fortsmithschools.org. Please note that there are some documents and information that are exempt from public review, such as certain personnel records, crisis plans, etc.

Rightsizing

In the fall of 2023, FSPS established a Long-Range Facility Planning Committee to develop a strategic plan for our school facilities. Their focus was on creating a practical and adaptable roadmap to guide the district's infrastructure development over the next 5 to 15 years.

A major part of the Long-Range Facility Plan is a focus on rightsizing over the next five years. Rightsizing is a strategic approach to optimizing the use of our school facilities by aligning the size and capacity of buildings with current and projected student populations. The goal is not simply to close schools, but to improve campuses at minimal cost while maximizing their suitability for both current and future needs. For elementary schools, key factors include a target building capacity of 625 students, a utilization rate of 80% (about 500 students), and the depreciated value of each building. The goal is to ensure that every campus is efficient, effective, and fully equipped to provide a high-quality learning environment.

Benefits of Rightsizing:

  • Decreased Need for Class-Sizing: By pooling more resources and staff into fewer schools, the district gains greater flexibility to accommodate growth and balance state requirements. This reduces the likelihood of class-sizing by ensuring that schools are neither overcrowded nor underutilized.
  • Grade-Level Collaboration: Multiple teachers teach the same grade level, allowing them to collaborate more effectively and share resources and strategies to improve student outcomes.
  • Dedicated Resources: Each campus will have dedicated art, music, and PE teachers, reducing the need for staff to split time across multiple schools.
  • Full-Time Assistant Principals: Each campus can have a dedicated Assistant Principal instead of sharing, enhancing student support and administrative efficiency.

Rightsized Schools

  • Trusty Elementary (2023-2024)
  • Orr Elementary (2024-2025)
  • Carnall Elementary (2025-2026)
  • Spradling Elementary (2025-2026)

Noise Mitigation

Fort Smith Public Schools qualifies to apply for the Community Noise Mitigation Grant Program, which is funded by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) within the U.S. Department of Defense. The program has allocated $75 million for noise mitigation efforts, with $18.7 million designated for areas near Guard or Reserve installations. The two locations selected for noise mitigation, based on proximity to the airport, are Carnall Elementary and Orr Learning Academy. The district is responsible for 10% of the total grant, and since FSPS is eligible for $4.3 million in funding, the district's cost share would be approximately $435,000.

Community Noise Mitigation Grant Program Presentation on August 25, 2025

Noise Mitigation Grant Update on February 23, 2026

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rates

  • Northside High School - 88%
  • Southside High School - 91%

ACT District Composite Score - 19.6

Total Number of AP Students

  • Northside High School - 367
  • Southside High School - 518

# of Students who scored a 3, 4, or 5 on their AP exam - 885

Industry Certifications

Students who earned at least one certification throughout high school

  • Northside High School - 337
  • Southside High School - 330

Total Certifications Earned

  • Northside High School - 544
  • Southside High School - 555

Total CTE Completion Certifications

  • Northside High School - 449
  • Southside High School - 210
graduate holding up diploma
Southside graduate smiling

Upcoming Events

School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium
School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium
School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium
School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium
School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium
School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium
School Board Calendar School Board Meeting
Service Center Building B Auditorium

Mr. Mahan's Goals for 2025-26 School Year

1: Communications, Marketing, & Transparency

1.1 Develop a Comprehensive Communications and Marketing Plan.

1.2 Establish and schedule quarterly "Meet with the Superintendent" town hall events.

1.3 Create a Community Advisory Council and a Parent, Guardian, Student Advisory Council.

1.4 Create a Transparency Dashboard that includes metrics like budget allocations, student outcomes, recent board-approved actions, and ongoing initiatives.

2: Curriculum & Instruction

2.1 Launch a K–5 STEM-focused charter school within an existing facility, featuring STEM curriculum, foreign language, and Singapore Math, with all planning, staffing, and approvals completed by June 2028.

2.2 Expand use of the SAMR model to promote best practices for technology integration in more elementary classrooms.

2.3 Use the CMSI Artifact Analysis Tool to evaluate work samples for alignment to essential math and literacy standards, Atlas Assessment, and cognitive demand.

2.4 Implement career-focused education in all elementary schools by integrating the PITSCO curriculum in grades K–5, with staff training and pilot units in grades 3–5 aligned to PEAK Career Pathways.

2.5 By July 2025, we will transform the annual “Nuts and Bolts” training into a 2-day interactive summer leadership conference featuring workshops, role-specific sessions, and networking opportunities.

2.6 The district will collaborate, finalize and adopt a comprehensive Portrait of a Graduate framework.

3: Finance

3.1 Expand the use of physical travel/purchasing cards for district use.

3.2 Present demographic trends to inform long-range planning

4: Instructional Technology

4.1 Increase cybersecurity measures as outline in Arkansas Legislation (ACT 754 and ACT 504) (Phase 2)

5: Student Services

5.1 The FSPS district will continue to shift to Student Electronic Cumulative data/files for students enrolling.

6: Facilities, Construction & Maintenance

6.1 Develop a digital marquee, roof, and HVAC standards and life cycle budget program. 

6.2 Present "Right Sizing" recommendation to the school board.