FORT SMITH, Ark. — Orr Elementary School closed on Monday, Nov. 4, due to flooding on campus, according to Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS). As a result, this has also closed an Election Day voting site for Sebastian County voters.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the district said the facilities team is actively working to assess and repair the damage.
Officials expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the closure. “The extent of the situation requires us to close the school today,” the statement read.
Shawn Shaffer, the executive director of facility operations for Fort Smith Public Schools, said the custodial staff noticed water inside the school's detached tornado shelter around 6:30 a.m. It also flooded some classrooms within the school and ruined the carpet.
Shaffer said the timeline to replace the carpet will be up to the school board. However, they've already started removing the damaged carpet. It may take longer for the new carpet to arrive and for crews to install them, according to Shaffer.
Fortunately, Shaffer said there are vacant classrooms on the other side of the school.
"We're able to relocate the staff to the other end in those three classrooms that took on the water into those, so we already have the furniture disinfected and moved into the new classrooms," Shaffer said. "I believe teachers were there today setting up those new classrooms."
Voting site closed
The Orr Elementary tornado shelter was previously designated as an Election Day voting site. Sebastian County Election Coordinator Manda Cravey confirmed it will no longer be open to voters on Nov. 5.
"For this election, we have closed that for emergency purposes because it's no longer safe for us to use the location," Cravey said.
Cravey said it is not possible at this time in the election season to introduce a new voting site, so they will be redirecting voters to St. Bartholomew Episcopal at 2701 Old Greenwood Rd. For a full list of Election Day voting sites, click here.
The school district will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Stay with 5NEWS as more information becomes available.