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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, promoted the |
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establishment of the school, and after more than a year of |
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exploration and planning, Serenity High opened on October 11, 1999; |
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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, Many interested parties have contributed to the |
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success of Serenity High, including principal Juli Ferraro, the |
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school's exemplary team of teachers, students and their families, |
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members of the school's advisory board, and administrators of |
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McKinney ISD, and all are deserving of recognition for their work in |
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advancing this notable institution; and |
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WHEREAS, Serenity High helps students overcome addiction and |
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focus on their educational goals, and the school's vital role in the |
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lives of many young Texans cannot be overestimated; now, therefore, |
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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 the future; and, be it 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. |
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Madden |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 980 was adopted by the House on April |
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2, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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