Fort Smith School Board keeping masks in place until end of semester, bonuses approved for employees The mask mandate will be lifted after May 29, 2021, the last day of school. Masks will not be required during summer courses. Author: 5NEWS Web Staff Updated: 4:52 PM CDT May 25, 2021 FORT SMITH, Ark. — On Monday, the Fort Smith School Board voted to continue requiring face masks until the end of the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mask mandate will be lifted after May 29, 2021, the last day of school. Masks will not be required during summer courses. In a 7-0 vote, every school board member decided to end the mask mandate after this school year.