MFISD accepts two board resignations

By Lew K. Cohn

The Highlander

Managing Editor

Two Marble Falls Independent School District trustees submitted their resignations Monday to the Board of Trustees, which appointed a familiar face to fill one of the vacancies.

The board accepted the resignations of Dr. Kelly Fox and Larry “Coach” Berkman following a 78-minute executive session in which the board met with its attorney behind closed doors. The board then appointed former Trustee Mike Savage to serve in Berkman's stead for the next 11 months.

Fox and Berkman had different reasons for submitting their resignations. Fox, who is the director of Texas Tech University's satellite campuses in Fredericksburg and Marble Falls, told the board in her resignation letter that she will be moving out of the Marble Falls school district boundaries.

Berkman, however, agreed to step down so his son John Berkman could be hired Monday night as the district's new head girl's basketball coach.

“The reason I am resigning from the board is so they can make a recommendation that is for the betterment of the school district and that is to hire my son,” Berkman said Monday. “It is a whole lot more important for him to be here working with the kids and therefore it is my honor to step down at this time.”

Board President Rick Edwards praised Berkman, whom he first met in 1982, saying the former coach had “served the district with a servant's heart and he loved and cared for all.”

“He is a man of great conviction, passion and prayer,” Edwards said of Berkman.

Savage, who “retired” from the board when he did not seek re-election earlier this year, was appointed to serve Berkman's unexpired term until May 2017, when the seat will be up for election. The board voted 5-0 to accept Savage's appointment and he was sworn in during the meeting.