FSPS School Board Votes to Rightsize Carnall and Spradling Elementary Schools, Approves New Athletics and Activities Director

The Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education voted this evening to rightsize Carnall Elementary School and Spradling Elementary School at the end of the 2025–2026 school year. Both schools will close at the conclusion of this school year. Beginning in 2026–2027, Carnall students will attend Beard or Cavanaugh Elementary Schools, and Spradling students will attend Sutton Elementary School. The board also approved the hiring of Rusty Bush as the district’s new Director of Athletics and Activities. 

Rightsizing

Rightsizing is a strategic process that aligns school facilities with current and projected enrollment. 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 board’s decision to close both schools was difficult; however, due to declining enrollment the last few years and a future loss of funding, keeping both schools operational is not an efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars. By attending schools with high enrollment numbers, students at both schools will have access to additional services, support, collaboration, and activities,” said FSPS Superintendent Martin Mahan.

The decision follows work by the district’s Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee, which includes educators, community members, consultants, and administrators. In 2023, the committee started meeting and reviewing the district elementary schools, which resulted in recommendations to rightsize underutilized elementary schools. This review led to the rightsizing of Trusty and Orr Elementary Schools. In May 2025, the board approved studying rightsizing options for Carnall and Spradling.

The district partnered with Zonda Education to develop rezoning options and gathered feedback through staff and community meetings in October 2025 concerning the possible right sizing of Carnall and Spradling. Right Sizing recommendations were presented to the board in December 2025. The board members reviewed the data and toured the schools before voting on February 2, 2026.

With tonight’s decision, the district will host meetings with families and staff to discuss transition plans. The district will also work to place staff from both schools in other positions within FSPS before posting new positions.

“A school is more than just a building,” Mahan said. “A school is the community that students and teachers build that focuses on learning, collaboration, and success. I am confident that students and families will be happy with the change, and our team is dedicated to assisting them and our staff during this transition.”

More information is available on the FSPS website:

• Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee 
• Carnall Elementary Rightsizing
• Spradling Elementary Rightsizing

New Director of Athletics and Activities

Bush will begin his new role at the district on February 16, 2026. Before joining FSPS, Bush served as the head football coach for the Alma School District since January 2020.

“I am excited to welcome Mr. Bush to the FSPS team,” Mahan said. “With his coaching and education experience, Mr. Bush will be an asset to the district, fellow coaches, and students. I look forward to the great things he will accomplish at FSPS.”

“I am extremely honored to be selected as the next Director of Athletics and Activities for Fort Smith Public Schools,” Bush said. “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.”

Before serving as the head football coach at Alma, Bush taught physical education and served as the Assistant Varsity Football Coach at Northside High School in Fort Smith Public Schools from August 2006 to 2019. Previous work experience includes teaching Health and Physical Education and serving as the Assistant Varsity Football Coach at El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Arkansas, from August 2003 to 2006. He also taught Physical Education and Health and was the Assistant Varsity Football Coach at Benton Jr. High School in Benton, Arkansas, from August 1999 to 2023. 

Bush holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. He also has an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.

Bush also served as the director of the American Legion Boys’ State program from 2005 to 2015. 

More information about the district’s Athletics and Activities program is available on the FSPS website.

https://www.fortsmithschools.org/departments/athletics-activities