TITLE: Recognizing March 2013 as Texas Public Schools Month.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 2013 as Texas Public Schools Month.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The children of Texas benefit from the solid educational foundation they receive from public schools, and those schools benefit from the support they receive from parents, educators, and the community; and WHEREAS, The encouragement of education in Texas goes back to the state's foundation; the Texas Constitution establishes in Section 1, Article VII, that "A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools"; and WHEREAS, Today, the combined efforts of 640,000 educators and paraprofessionals at more than 1,200 public and charter schools on 8,500 campuses across the Lone Star State are directed at broadening the minds and sharpening the skills of 4.9 million young Texans; these hardworking teachers and administrators serve every community across the state as they prepare students for their future endeavors, whether those endeavors be continued academic study, a professional career, or training for a vocation; and WHEREAS, The efforts of parents and concerned citizens are just as essential to the welfare of our schools; whether they are encouraging their own children's studies or serving as volunteers, mentors, taxpayers, or activists in support of educational issues, the people of Texas recognize the importance of the successful education of the next generation to the future of our state; and WHEREAS, A number of outstanding educational professionals and engaged citizens are present in the chamber today, including Hilda Garza-DeShazo of the McAllen Independent School District Board of Trustees, Carol Scott of the Corpus Christi ISD Board of Trustees, Alton Frailey, superintendent of the Katy ISD and vice president of the Texas Association of School Administrators, Darrell Floyd, superintendent of the Stephenville ISD and president-elect of the Texas Association of School Administrators, and Karen Slay, president of the Texas PTA; and WHEREAS, The fate of Texas will someday rest in the hands of the current generation of students, whose future depends on the best efforts of the state's public schools, and this is a fitting occasion to take note of the contributions those schools receive from teachers, administrators, parents, and concerned citizens; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 2013 as Texas Public Schools Month and encourage all Texans to commit themselves to the continuing support of public education. Patrick Aycock Gonzales Allen Howard Sheffield of Coryell 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. 985 was adopted by the House on March 27, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House