We are already into our second six-week grading period, and no one here can believe how fast and how positive this school year is going. I have been attending faculty meetings on our seven different campuses, and I have told the staff that I am very proud of their efforts, and I am also very proud of our kids and our supporters for the start we’ve enjoyed. I have two main purposes of my article - one is to give everyone an update about the building program, but before I do that, let me tell everyone about the important week we have coming up for the school district.

Beginning with the school board proclaiming the opening of the 2008 Homecoming Week on Monday night, we are looking forward to a fantastic week of activities for this special time for the school district. There is one special activity that will be occurring on Friday night that I want to both inform everyone about, but to also invite participation from our community. The football game that will be played on Friday, October 24th, will be the last homecoming game in the old Mustang Stadium. Our new stadium is scheduled to be completed by the end of this school year, so all of our activities will be in it starting the 2009-2010 school year.

I have received many requests from community members for some kind of special remembrance to the old stadium before we leave it, and we are going to plan on two such activities. Because we will have so many of our graduates in town and in attendance at the game on the 24th, we are going to have a final closing homecoming ceremony after the game has ended. I want to invite all of our alumni, Mustang supporters, current students, parents, and anyone else who has enjoyed activities at the stadium over the last forty years to come down onto the field and participate. We’re going to say a couple of words and then we invite everyone to walk the field and interact for as long as needed to complete our last homecoming game at Mustang Stadium.

Apart from the very positive beginning of our year, we are also having excellent progress on the MFISD Building Program. We have seven different projects from the 2006 bond, and most of those are well underway, and a couple of the projects are nearing completion. It has been a while since I updated everyone on the progress, so please accept the information below.

�Marble Falls Elementary School: This project is on schedule to be completely finished by Spring Break of this school year (March, 2009). We currently have children already in new classrooms in the remodeled and renovated portion of the school, and the new addition is set to be completed by December. We will be moving our staff and students into the new building over the Christmas Break, and we should have everyone into the completed building very early in the second semester. The only work to be done after Christmas is the demolition of the old Kindergarten/1st grade building on Broadway - that will become the new bus lane for our kids who ride the bus to and from school.

-Marble Falls Middle School: As with the elementary school, we already have some classes in newly renovated classrooms in the two-story building at the middle school. The new athletic/PE area which contains two new competition gyms and new locker rooms will be completed by the first of November. Much of the two-story building and the new administrative offices in front will be completed by Christmas, and the entire project should be finished by April.

-Marble Falls High School: The three different projects at the high school are right on schedule. As stated above, the new Mustang Stadium is set to be completed by the end of March of this school year along with the new addition to the field house. The new classrooms at the high school (six new classrooms and four new science labs) also should be completed by April of this school year.

-New Colt Elementary School: The new Colt Elementary, like the other projects, is right on schedule. Most of the foundation has already been poured, and the steel work has commenced. If the weather cooperates and the schedule holds together, the new school is set to be completed by June, 2009. This will give us most of the summer to move into the building to start the new school year.

-Highland Lakes Elementary School: The classroom additions - five new classrooms and one new restroom facility - are set to be started within the next two weeks. We are extending one classroom wing at Highland Lakes, and that work is scheduled to be completed by the end March or first of April.

-New Falls Career High School/Administration Building: After we have moved out of the old Colt Elementary School, work will begin on its’ renovation into the new Falls HS and central office. This work should be completed by March or April of 2010.

I want to always thank everyone for the support of our children and the support of our schools. We have a lot going on right now, but everyone has great attitudes about it, and we are seeing much success. If this article produces any questions about our Homecoming Week, the building program, or about anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me (693-4357). I will make the time to address any questions and/or concerns you might have. Thank you.