MFISD eyes growth to 2025

By Lew K. Cohn
The Highlander
Managing Editor
By the year 2025, Marble Falls Independent School District enrollment may have grown seven to 10 percent, according to a study performed by a College Station demographics firm.
To determine the district's capacity to handle this anticipated growth, the Board of Trustees voted at the Tuesday, July 19, regular board meeting to contract with Alpha Facilities Solutions to perform a Facilities Condition Assessment to evaluate the condition of the district's current facilities and to create a comprehensive plan to address needs as well as routine maintenance for the short and long term.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen said the purpose of the study by Population and Survey Analysts (PASA) was to anticipate and plan for future student needs that may result from enrollment growth.
The study revealed that between now and 2020, Marble Falls ISD district enrollment is expected to grow between three to four percent, while between 2020 and 2025, the district could see an additional four to six percent growth.
“That estimate is built on a lot of information about projected development and the accuracy of those projections is affected by how many of these developments come to fruition,” Allen said. “Most of our growth is expected to occur in an L-shaped pattern south down U.S. 281 to Highway 71 and then east towards Lake Travis.”
The growth projected by PASA is associated with at least three planned developments: Thomas Ranch, Gregg Ranch and the Homestead at Mormon Mill.
Allen said while there is “no reason to see why growth won't continue,” he believes that most of that growth will be manageable within the district's current facilities footprint.
“We believe the growth will occur at a pace that the district can absorb without the need for significant or dramatic action real soon,” Allen said. “We think we have the capacity to absorb this growth over time. We feel great that our district is one that is attractive and that people want to come to, and that also that influx of students is not going to outpace our current facilities.”
The district will know the state of their facilities for sure and be able to schedule maintenance and capital improvement projects after Alpha Facilities Solutions completes its assessment in November.
“Generally speaking, with the demographic study being performed by PASA, we will have a notion of where our new students are coming from, while with this assessment by Alpha, we can make a longterm plan to make sure all the district's needs are met,” Allen said.
Looking at everything from roofing to high-volume air conditioning (HVAC) to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, Alpha will be able to determine the current conditions of the 842,258 square feet of district facilities and find systemic deficiencies, determine the remaining useful life of all major facility systems and develop a comprehensive plan for routine and deferred maintenance.
Alpha will also be able to help estimate capital replacement needs and their costs, the compliance of overall systems with their original design or engineering intent and the compatibility of district equipment.
The fee of $96,017 charged by Alpha includes not only a basic facilities condition assessment, but also assessments of irrigation and landscaping, equipment inventory, site and infrastructure, kitchens and preventive maintenance schedules. Work is expected to begin on the project in August.
The cost of the assessment is included in about $446,035 in fund balance designated for use by the board last month. Other projects designated for payment through this amount of fund balance include:
$10,000 for a sound board/amp/system for the MFMS press box.
$50,000 for a projector in the high school auditorium.
$25,000 for a wireless microphone system for the high school auditorium.
$8,500 for MFMS choir uniforms.
$64,750 for MFHS band uniforms.
$28,000 for chromebook replacements and repairs.
$2,500 for three raptor systems for security.
$161,268 for a utility tractor, commercial mower, suburbans and two pickups.
In other action, the board voted to purchase attendance credits from the state as a mechanism by which they will make the necessary recapture payments the district must pay as a designated Chapter 41, or property-rich, school district. The district is expected to pay out around $3 million to the Texas Education Agency this coming fiscal year.
Purchasing attendance credits helps the district reduce its wealth per weighted student to match a level that is not greater than the equalized wealth level as determined by TEA. The district is required to submit this to the state prior to adopting a tax rate.
The board also voted to approve the student handbooks and student code of conduct as presented for the 2016-17 school year. Allen said the code of conduct was adjusted to clear up any language district staff found confusing from the 2015-16 version and that there have been no major changes.