86R6162 CJM-D
By: Guerra H.R. No. 142
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud community members are gathering in Austin on
February 12, 2019, 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 1983, legislators broadened the
district's purpose to allow it to operate vocational magnet
schools, and as a result, STISD 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 & Technology Academy to reflect an expanded
focus; over the following years, the magnet program continued to
grow with the addition of South Texas Academy for Medical
Professions, South Texas Preparatory Academy, and Rising Scholars
Academy of South Texas; and
WHEREAS, Currently encompassing six college-preparatory
magnet schools in Edinburg, Mercedes, Olmito, and San Benito, STISD
is the only all-magnet district in the state; it serves more than
4,100 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;
in addition, it continues to provide educational and occupational
training for students with special needs through its career and
technology half-day program; and
WHEREAS, The district attained a high level of success under
the leadership of Dr. Marla M. Guerra, who recently retired from
her position as superintendent after 17 years; in 2018, the
inaugural year of letter ratings, the Texas Education Agency
awarded the district an "A" rating, and for the fifth year in a row,
STISD received the postsecondary readiness distinction
designation, the only one available to districts; furthermore, all
campuses in the district received a "met standard" rating, with
three of the campuses earning all distinctions for which they were
eligible; and
WHEREAS, The district's new superintendent, Dr. Marco
Antonio Lara Jr., is committed to working alongside a staff of
accomplished teachers, administrators, and support personnel to
ensure the success of young people in the tri-county area and to
make a positive difference in the life of each student; and
WHEREAS, The faculty and staff of South Texas ISD continue to
look for new ways to help students achieve, lead, and contribute to
a changing world; to that end, the district has adopted a new
strategic plan, which includes the following call to action: "Each
student thrives in real world challenges as a visionary in a global
society"; 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 House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 12, 2019, 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.