By:  Barrientos                                  S.R. No. 659
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to
    1-3  recognize Ortega Elementary School for its recent selection by
    1-4  Redbook magazine as one of the best schools in the country; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Ortega Elementary School is located in a low-income
    1-6  Austin neighborhood and was one of nine schools to be chosen
    1-7  throughout the state and the only school to be chosen from Central
    1-8  Texas; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, It was named one of the 177 best elementary schools in
   1-10  the country and was one of 72 schools cited for overall excellence;
   1-11  and
   1-12        WHEREAS, In meeting the criteria for overall excellence,
   1-13  the 72 schools were cited for offering students a success-oriented
   1-14  mix of a creative curriculum and varied extracurricular activities,
   1-15  nurturing teachers, and supportive parent and community members; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Traits common among the winners also included a
   1-17  principal who is deeply committed to the students and an emphasis in
   1-18  the classroom on the written word and innovative use of technology;
   1-19  and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Ortega has used a $741,000 grant from the RJR Nabisco
   1-21  Foundation to purchase computers, has extended its school day by 45
   1-22  minutes, and has increased its extracurricular activities; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, The school's achievement test scores have been rising,
    2-1  despite the poverty of most Ortega students and the crime present in
    2-2  the neighborhood; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, In recent years, the school has focused on providing
    2-4  resources, programs, and experiences that would inspire excellence in
    2-5  student performance; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, The principal, faculty, and staff of Ortega have
    2-7  consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to their students
    2-8  and to their work in the field of education; now, therefore, be it
    2-9        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-10  73rd Legislature, hereby commend Ortega Elementary School for the
   2-11  high standards the school upholds and for the outstanding educational
   2-12  opportunities it provides students in the community; and, be
   2-13  it further
   2-14        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Ortega
   2-15  Elementary School as a token of high regard from the Texas Senate.
   2-16                                 _____________________________________
   2-17                                        President of the Senate
   2-18                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-19                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-20                                 the Senate on April 21, 1993.
   2-21                                 _____________________________________
   2-22                                        Secretary of the Senate
   2-23                                 _____________________________________
   2-24                                         Member, Texas Senate