MFISD considers Granite Shoals fields

BY LEW K. COHN
THE HIGHLANDER
MANAGING EDITOR

Marble Falls Independent School District and the City of Granite Shoals could soon be developing new soccer fields next to Highland Lakes Elementary School after the school district's Board of Trustees reviewed a memorandum of agreement last week.
MFISD Superintendent Chris Allen, PhD, said the district owns unimproved land next to the school and has discussed the need for additional recreational facilities for children in the Granite Shoals and Marble Falls area.
“We both agree there is definitely a need for more play space in that attendance zone,” Allen said. “We have the property and they have the materials and manpower.”
Granite Shoals would be responsible for all financial obligations necessary to construct soccer fields on the property and would perform the work, though they would have to get approval from MFISD trustees prior to construction.
When completed, the city will turn the property back over to the school district, which will be responsible for overall maintenance and upkeep of the land with the exception of water utilities, which will be maintained by the city.
The City of Granite Shoals would also be given the first opportunity at scheduling use of the new soccer fields during times the district does not need to use the facilities with fees waived by the district for using the facilities.
The facilities are expected to be completed on or before Sept. 1, 2019.
No action was taken on the agreement at the July 18 Board of Trustees meeting, though the memorandum of agreement could be approved next month.
The board also held the first reading of an elections contract with Burnet County for the May 2017 district trustee election. The contract appoints Burnet County Elections Administrator Doug Ferguson to serve as elections officer for the district and to supervise the election. It also establishes the polling places for the district at the Courthouse in Burnet and at the Courthouse annex in Marble Falls.
The cost of elections the past two years has averaged to about $6,500 per year.
Board members also heard an update on summer projects work that had previously been approved. The work is being done using money from the district's past bond issue. Among the projects are enhancements to the main corridor at the high school, the sixth grade wing and weight room at the middle school and to Mustang gymnasium. Most of the work is aesthetic and includes touching up paint.