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Allen
Marble Falls ISD Superintendent Chris Allen presented a report May 18 to city leaders offering insight into how the district coped with the changing education landscape prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He spoke during the regular Marble Falls City Council meeting.
Allen credited staff commitment, parent and student cooperation as well as community support for strides the district made in the midst of restrictions, mandates and health concerns.
“We were able to far exceed expectation,” he said. “We’ve had a great school year.
“I’ve never been more proud of staff and I’ve never been more thankful for the hand of providence to protect people who were just trying to do the right thing.”
He offered a timeline of district response to the pandemic:
• Since March of 2020 – shutdown the schools due to governor’s orders connected to the pandemic concerns. The district contacted parents and students to offer food and direct them to support resources;
• On March 30, 2020 – shifted from in person to remote learning. The district shifted to online instruction for 4,300 students (1,600 devices in one day for elementary school students);
• From March 2020 to August 2020 – The district provided nearly 86,000 meals, 2,300 snacks to students and parents utilizing school and federal funds;
• May 29, 2020 – conducted an in person graduation commencement;
• In July 2020 – offered both in person and remote learning for summer school. The district conducted surveys of parents;
• On Aug. 12, 2020 – the school board authorized free meals at all campuses (breakfast and lunch);
• On Aug. 19, 2020 – the district resumed classes with in-person and remote learning options. In person learning attendance averaged from 70 to 90 percent. The current attendance is about 88.5 percent;
• In January 2021 – the district established a COVID-19 testing site with rapid tests for students, parents and employees as well as added fulltime employee who operated the new feature;
• From August 2020 to date – the district distributed health and sanitation supplies including masks, water bottle filling stations and hand sanitizer;
• Avoided cancellation of all extra-curricular activities and athletic events due to coronavirus with the exception of one boy’s basketball game and a middle school girls basketball game;
• Experienced a handful of educator/paraprofessional campus resignations due to concerns over the pandemic;
• In February 2021 – Winter Storm Uri closed campuses for about a week and a day. The middle school served as a temporary shelter. Staff members continued assisted with cooking and serving food when the shelter moved to the First United Methodist Church;
• During the 2020-21 school year – crews completed or nearly completed bond-funded construction at the high school, middle school and Highland Lakes Elementary School and Marble Falls Elementary School;
• During the current school year – the district had the most football games wins in nearly 10 years, hosted two cross country events, authorized marching band, cheerleader and Starlettes performances, hosted fall theater shows, musicals and band concerts;
• In 2021 – the district was a host site for SAT and ACT college entrance exams which attracted students from across the state, whose districts would not allow the venue due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns;
• During the current school year – CTE (trades program) competed at the national level, a high jumper won state, one-act play performances received top accolades;
• In May 2021 – The district received nearly $1 million in scholarship money doled out to 200 students;
• On May 12 – the Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees made face coverings optional. The practice was previously state mandated under the Texas Education Agency’s guidance but then placed in the hands of school districts to determine the requirement;
• On May 28, 8 p.m. at Mustang Stadium, the district will host the class of 2021 graduation ceremony.
“As difficult as the pandemic has been, we actually learned quite a bit from it,” Allen said. “What we’ve learned we intend to implement in a way that makes us better moving forward
“We expect to get back to all pre-COVID mode in all levels of operation next year.”
“I've never been more proud of staff and I've never been more thankful for the hand of providence to protect people who were just trying to do the right thing.”
— Dr. Chris Allen Superintendent, MFISD