89R17984 AMB-D
By: Martinez H.R. No. 498
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud representatives of the South Texas
Independent School District are gathering in Austin on March 12,
2025, in celebration of South Texas ISD Day at the State Capitol;
and
WHEREAS, Established by order of the state legislature in
1964, South Texas ISD began as a residential school in Edinburg for
students with disabilities, who at the time were excluded from
public education; during the 1970s, the district enrolled special
education students from Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties and
provided them with the opportunity to develop valuable life and
vocational skills while participating in sports and other
activities; today, the district continues to offer educational and
occupational training to individuals with disabilities through
full-time enrollment and half-day programs; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, the State Board of Education initiated
plans for the first magnet school in South Texas; two years later,
the South Texas ISD Health Professions high school opened its
doors, marking a significant milestone for the advancement of
career and technical education in the Rio Grande Valley; over the
next several decades, the district established six additional
magnet schools offering specialized learning environments,
including the South Texas ISD Science Academy, South Texas ISD
Medical Professions, South Texas ISD World Scholars, South Texas
ISD Preparatory Academy, South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy,
and South Texas ISD Virtual Academy; and
WHEREAS, An open-enrollment district, South Texas ISD
benefits from the able leadership of superintendent Dr. Marco
Antonio Lara Jr.; its schools are consistently ranked among the
best in the state and nation by Niche and U.S. News & World Report
and have made frequent appearances on Educational Results
Partnership Texas Honor Roll lists; four of its campuses have been
designated as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of
Education, and the district has further been honored by Niche by
being highly ranked on its Districts with the Best Teachers in Texas
and Best Places to Teach in Texas lists for multiple years; and
WHEREAS, South Texas ISD serves as a model for quality and
innovation in public education for not only the State of Texas but
the nation at large, and its schools have helped countless young
Texans explore pathways to success that align with their unique
talents and career aspirations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 12, 2025, as South Texas ISD Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for a productive and enjoyable stay in Austin.