• History of Southside High School

    Southside High School

     

     

     

     

    Foundation and Leadership

    Southside High School opened in the fall of 1963 under the leadership of Principal Victor E. Stewart, who served as principal until his retirement in 1982. The school began with 971 students (grades 7-10) and a staff of 37 teachers, 3 administrators, 1 counselor, 4 secretaries, 4 custodians, and 4 cafeteria workers. Wayne Haver succeeded Stewart and served as principal from 1982 to 2018, retiring with a total of 48 years in the district. Haver was named the 2014 National Educational Administrator of the Year. Lisa Miller became the third principal in 2018, making history as the first secondary principal in Arkansas to earn the designation of master principal.

    Campus Development

    The original 44-classroom building has seen multiple expansions since it was built. 

    • 1968: Nine-room wing added
    • 1973: Twelve-room wing added
    • 1977: 600-seat auditorium built
    • 1978: All-weather track installed
    • 1981: Physical education facility added
    • 1988: New stadium built
    • 1992: Business wing and cafeteria expanded
    • 1997: Athletic addition with weight room, dressing room, and training area
    • 1998: Science addition and library/office expansion
    • 2000: Fine arts complex completed
    • 2008: Activities center built
    • 2011: Energy-efficient windows installed, landscaping and parking lot resurfaced, artificial turf added to football field
    • 2019: $35 million multi-phase construction project which included a freshman center, competition gym with storm shelter, cafeteria and media center renovations, and new administrative offices

    Achievements

    Southside High School has been recognized three times as a "School of Excellence" by the U.S. Department of Education (1982-83, 1986-87, 2000). In 1986-87, Southside was one of only four schools nationally to repeat as a "School of Excellence." The school proudly flies three flags for "Excellence in Education" presented by Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Bill Clinton. Southside has also been named one of "America's Top Schools" by Newsweek magazine for ten consecutive years.

    Changes and Legacy

    In 2015, the Fort Smith School Board voted to change the fight song and mascot. The "Wabash Cannonball" replaced "Dixie" as the fight song for the 2015-16 school year. A thirty-member committee of faculty, students, alumni, and citizens selected the name "Mavericks" to replace "Rebels," and a new mascot logo was introduced. In the 2016-17 school year, new uniforms and signage marked the beginning of Southside's new legacy as the Mavericks.

    In 2015, the Fort Smith School Board voted to change the fight song and mascot. The "Wabash Cannonball" replaced "Dixie" as the fight song for the 2015-16 school year. A thirty member committee made up of faculty, students, alumni, and citizens, selected the name "Mavericks" to replace "Rebels" and a new mascot logo was introduced. For the 2016-17 school year, Southside uniforms and signage was updated, marking the beginning of Southside's new legacy as the Mavericks.