FORT SMITH, Ark. — Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) is planning to close Trusty Elementary, citing facility conditions and potential enrollment drops.
FSPS cites the condition of the school as a primary reason for the closure.
“Trusty had about 22% of its lifespan left, so it's an aging building. And the older buildings, the classrooms were much smaller. And with new standards around instruction, the classrooms are meant to be larger,” Marty Mahan, deputy superintendent for Fort Smith Public Schools, said.
"In 2018, the district hired Corgan, a Chicago-based architectural firm, to perform a facility assessment as part of the district's five-year master plan," the district's website said.
Corgan's assessment was based on the condition of the district's facilities. The assessment found that Trusty had only 22% of the remaining facility life, and a master plan that was presented to the school board recommended that Trusty be closed.
In 2021, the school board adopted a six-year capital plan, which included moving Trusty kindergarten and first-grade students to Morrison Elementary at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.
At the end of the 2023-24 school year, fifth-grade students will be cycled out to middle school, and the remaining students will start the following school year at neighboring schools.
"Next year, fifth grade will go to middle school. So essentially, we'll be moving second, third and fourth grade to either Morris or Howard based on how we rezone," Mahan said.
Nearby schools that now face rezoning to accommodate the displaced students include Howard Elementary, Tilles Elementary, and Morrison Elementary.
Additionally, the district says that data indicated enrollment at the school would "significantly drop over the next five years." The FSPS website says that the school has 118 students currently enrolled—only 59 students will move to a rezoned school.
Mahan also said parents still have the choice to send their kids to a school they are not zoned for.
"At the high schools, we have attendance exceptions. So you can live anywhere in Fort Smith and apply for attendance exception attend the high school of your choice. Middle schools, we have that on the limited basis as well. And then elementary ... we have that as well, but it's based on available seats at each particular school," Mahan said.
The district is hosting a series of public input meetings to discuss the closure and subsequent rezonings. The following are the dates and locations of the meetings:
- Howard Elementary - Tuesday, Dec. 5 - 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Tilles Elementary - Thursday, Dec. 7 - 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Morrison Elementary - Tuesday, Dec. 12 - 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Trusty Elementary - Thursday, Dec. 14 - 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
A full list of frequently asked questions about the project can be accessed here.
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