SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 114
WHEREAS, Proud community members are gathering in Austin
on February 10, 2015, to celebrate South Texas Independent School
District Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Originally known as the Rio Grande Rehabilitation
District, the South Texas Independent School District was
established in 1964 to create further educational opportunities
for area youths with disabilities; in 1973, legislators
broadened the district's purpose to allow it to operate
vocational magnet schools, and as a result, the district opened
South Texas High School for Health Professions in 1984 and the
Science Academy of South Texas five years later; the district
established the Teacher Academy of South Texas in 1993,
subsequently renaming the school South Texas Business, Education
and Technology Academy to better reflect its focus; over the
following years, the magnet program continued to expand with the
addition of South Texas Academy for Medical Professions and South
Texas Preparatory Academy; and
WHEREAS, Currently encompassing five magnet schools in
Edinburg, San Benito, and Mercedes, South Texas Independent
School District is the only all-magnet district in the state; it
serves more than 3,300 junior high and high school students and
maintains an open enrollment policy that attracts interested and
hardworking pupils from 28 school districts in Cameron, Hidalgo,
and Willacy Counties, and it continues to provide educational and
occupational training for students with special needs through
its career and technology program; and
WHEREAS, The district's superintendent, Dr. Marla M. Guerra,
ably guides a staff of accomplished teachers, administrators,
and support personnel who are deeply committed to the success of
young people in the tri-county area; in 2014, their work was
recognized when the Texas Education Agency gave every campus in
the district the highest accountability rating and maximum
number of distinction designations available; and
WHEREAS, The faculty and staff of South Texas Independent
School District continue to look for new ways to help students
achieve, lead, and contribute to a changing world; to that end,
the district's second middle school, South Texas Academy of
Rising Scholars, will open in the fall of 2015; and
WHEREAS, For more than half a century, the South Texas
Independent School District has dedicated itself to offering
students the best educational opportunities possible, and in so
doing, it has equipped several generations of Texans with the
knowledge and skills necessary to build a brighter future; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 10, 2015, as South Texas
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 from
the Texas Senate.
Hinojosa, Lucio
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 9, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate