Dr. Chris Allen

Dr. Chris Allen
MFISD Superintendent
Special to The Highlander

After developments in the region and new federal guidance, Marble Falls ISD has decided to suspend normal school operations until at least March 29 and will announce an update regarding school operations by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 26.

Anthony Leflet

During the District’s May 21 meeting, the Marble Falls Indepentent School District trustees approved Supt. Dr. Chris Allen’s recommendation to name Anthony Leflet as the new head band director for Marble Falls High School.

Leflet replaces retiring band director, Brad Behrens, who served MFISD for 20 years.A band director hiring committee comprised of Fine Arts stakeholders, MFHS staff, and MFISD administrators helped sort and interview finalists for the Band Director position. The top candidates were then forwarded to the superintendent prior to final selection and presentation to the Board.

Leftlet has served Hays High School as the Head Band Director for the last 20 years. In addition to his duties as the head band director for Hays, a 6A program, Leflet was responsible for the Hays High school band feeder program.

Marble Falls High School has a new interim head football coach and athletic director.

Mustang Football co-offensive coordinator Michael Birdwell was named to the athletic director and head coach position Thursday, succeeding Matt Green, who will lead to take similar duties at Llano ISD this month.

“Coach Birdwell has been an integral part in the successes experienced by the Mustangs over the past three seasons,” said MFISD superintendent Dr. Chris Allen. “With 76 days until the Mustangs’ first scrimmage, Coach Birdwell’s leadership and familiarity with the staff and the skills of our players will provide a smooth transition into the fall seasons for all of our athletic programs.”

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Marble Falls Independent School District will give all staff a three-percent midpoint general pay increase (MGPI) beginning in 2017-18 after the Board of Trustees voted to do so Monday night.

During a special called meeting, Marble Falls ISD trustees approved a plan to include the salary increase for teachers, nurses, librarians, administrative, administrative/professional, clerical/paraprofessional and auxiliary staff.

Also included was a $25 per month additional contribution to employees' health insurance benefits, which gives employees an extra $300 per year in their paychecks to cover the cost of their health insurance premiums.

Marble Falls ISD trustees approved Hays CISD administrator Damon Adams as the new principal for Marble Falls High School during their regular board meeting Monday, April 17.

Adams will work with interim principal Emmett Aubry between now and the end of the current school year to transition to his full time duties as the new MFHS instructional leader in July.

Adams was recommended to the board by MFISD superintendent Dr. Chris Allen following an extensive selection process, which included community and staff input. A principal selection committee was established to help with the screening of applicants for the MFHS principal position, prior to the selection of the final candidate for board recommendation.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees took no action on naming a new Place 7 trustee on Thursday night, Aug. 4, but wasted no time in hiring a new assistant superintendent.

Jeff Gasaway was hired during a special called meeting to be the new assistant superintendent of administrative operations. He succeeds Wade Stanford, who became the new superintendent at Westwood ISD in Palestine last month.

Gasaway comes to Marble Falls from Waco Midway ISD, where he was principal at Midway High School and worked closely with current Marble Falls ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen, who was a principal, assistant superintendent and interim superintendent at Midway ISD from 2008 to 2012.

Gasaway said he is excited to be taking on a new position in MFISD.