81R33357 BPG-D
By: Vaught H.R. No. 2749
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission is honoring Lake
Highlands Elementary School with an official historical marker
commemorating its first 50 years; and
WHEREAS, Founded by the Richardson Independent School
District on October 3, 1955, the first elementary school in Lake
Highlands was built in sections and initially occupied a unit
housing five classrooms and the office of its first principal, Bill
Passmore; the principal's office was also used for other functions
and held the school's piano; at the time, the entire district had
only two buildings and fewer than 800 students; and
WHEREAS, The community strongly supported the new school, and
the Parent Teachers Association established a variety of programs
and events, including an annual carnival, to raise funds for
furniture, fans, encyclopedias, and other supplies; in its second
year, Lake Highlands Elementary doubled the size of its faculty and
added six new classrooms, a visual education room, and a physical
education room to serve almost 300 students; and
WHEREAS, Expanding rapidly, Lake Highlands Elementary
reached an enrollment of 700 students in 25 classrooms by the
1961-1962 school year; after peaking at about 1,000 students in the
1970s, enrollment began to decline as the median age in surrounding
neighborhoods increased, and RISD took advantage of available space
to institute such specialized programs as bilingual education,
prekindergarten, and one of its first centralized special education
programs; another influx of younger residents in the early 1990s
led the district to add extra kindergarten and first and second
grade classes; and
WHEREAS, A complete renovation in 2001-2002 transformed the
school, bringing a new library, computer lab, and main office
space; under the leadership of current principal Kim Sullivan, the
school's dedicated teachers have continued the proud Wildcat
tradition of academic rigor, and Lake Highlands Elementary was
named an Honor Roll Campus by the Texas Business & Education
Coalition for 2007 and has consistently achieved the "recognized"
designation from the Texas Education Agency; and
WHEREAS, For more than five decades, Lake Highlands
Elementary has provided children of the Richardson Independent
School District with a quality education, and the dedication of a
historical marker is a fitting tribute to the enduring stature of
this fine institution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate all those associated with Lake
Highlands Elementary School on the dedication of an official Texas
State Historical Marker and extend to them best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.