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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Serenity High in McKinney has made a positive |
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difference in the lives of numerous youth and their families since |
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its inception nearly a decade ago; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded to provide a safe haven and sober |
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environment for students who have successfully completed treatment |
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for chemical dependency, Serenity High is the only public high |
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school of its kind in Texas; Lynn Sperry, a longtime board member |
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for the McKinney Independent School District, was motivated to |
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promote the establishment of the school by her son's struggle with |
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addiction, and after more than a year of exploration and planning, |
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Serenity High opened on October 11, 1999; and |
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WHEREAS, Students undergo an extensive application process |
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to ensure that they are prepared to remain sober while completing |
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their education; once admitted, they receive individual |
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instruction on self-paced course work and participate in peer |
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support groups, team-building events, and ongoing community |
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service projects; moreover, students are required to demonstrate |
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their ongoing commitment to a sober lifestyle by undergoing random |
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drug testing; formal graduation ceremonies take place twice a year |
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and include a cherished ritual in which graduates hang photographs |
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of themselves on the wall of honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Through partnerships with area school districts, |
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Serenity High welcomes students from Anna, Celina, Community, |
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Farmersville, Frisco, Garland, Gunter, Melissa, Pilot Point, |
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Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, and Wylie, and enrolls |
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students from other districts for a per-day tuition fee; to date, |
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the school has graduated more than 150 students, some of whom |
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traveled more than 35 miles from home to attend; and |
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WHEREAS, Thanks to the dedication and insight of principal |
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Juli Ferraro and her team of teachers, Serenity High helps students |
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overcome addiction and focus on their educational goals, and the |
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school's vital role in the lives of many young Texans cannot be |
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overestimated; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Serenity High for its outstanding record |
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of service to North Texas and extend to all those associated with |
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the school sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Serenity High as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |