Fort Smith Public Schools, its Board of Education, and former Superintendent Terry Morawski have reached a settlement agreement with the former Northside football coach, according to a memorandum of understanding.
The deal brings legal disputes to a close, but it comes with a specific caveat: the document states that all parties—FPS, the Board, and Morawski—made no admission of liability. That phrase shows up in Arkansas contracts for a reason. It allows the district to fix a personnel issue or a legal hotspot without taking the blame, a tactic State Police and other agencies use to avoid liability in civil suits.
You know the drill up on 71st Street. Northside High School isn’t just another building in Fort Smith; it’s a institution that anchors the northwest side of town. The Panthers have been a Friday night tradition for generations. When a story involves the coaching staff, it ripples out to parents, boosters, and students. The energy on that field gets passed from the players to the stands, so when off-field drama breaks, the whole community feels the tension.
Prosecuting a case against public entities is a heavy lift. School districts operate on thin margins. Dragging a case through the courts costs time and money that could go toward textbooks or keeping custodians on the payroll. By signing the MoU, the district circles the wagons around its budget and its reputation.
Having Morawski named alongside the Board of Education in the paperwork signals the scope of the matter reached the upper echelons of district leadership. As the former superintendent, he’s been a familiar face around the district for years, overseeing the region’s largest school system. Getting this sorted out without a trial means FPS closes a chapter that has likely been weighing on the administrative staff.
Read the full report from 5News to see the full memorandum when it’s released.
Source: 5News KFSM
