TITLE: Recognizing May 8, 2013, as Lancaster Independent School District Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing May 8, 2013, as Lancaster Independent School District Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud community members are gathering in Austin on May 8, 2013, to celebrate Lancaster Independent School District Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Situated in southwest Dallas County, Lancaster ISD serves more than 6,000 students in seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, as well as an alternative learning center and a sixth-grade learning center that focuses on instruction in science, technology, engineering, and math; and WHEREAS, Dr. Michael D. McFarland, who became superintendent of the district in May 2010, ably guides a staff of accomplished administrators, teachers, and support personnel, all of whom are committed to providing an outstanding education to area young people; in recent years, Lancaster ISD has made remarkable progress in closing achievement gaps, with pronounced improvements in such areas as test performance and college and career readiness; and WHEREAS, Based on data from 2011, the Texas Education Agency awarded the district 20 Gold Performance Acknowledgements, the most in the district's history, and assigned the "recognized" rating to six campuses, marking another district record; the following year, Lancaster ISD achieved membership in the Texas High Performing School Consortium, becoming one of only 22 districts to earn that honor, and received an Award of Distinction from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching; several campuses have additionally won Title I National Distinguished School Awards; and WHEREAS, Far from resting on its laurels, Lancaster ISD has charted an ambitious path for the future; with the aid of a $4.8 million grant from the Texas Instruments Foundation, the district plans to implement an advanced science-and technology-based curriculum in each of its campuses and expects to become the first all-STEM district in the state; and WHEREAS, The Lancaster Independent School District has excelled in its mission to foster a challenging and supportive learning environment for young Texans, and the hard work and dedication demonstrated by its faculty, staff, and students are indeed worthy of commendation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize May 8, 2013, as Lancaster Independent School District Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those in attendance sincere best wishes for an enjoyable visit to Austin; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the district as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Giddings Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1914 was adopted by the House on May 8, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House