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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, After more than three decades of distinguished |
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service to the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, |
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Gilberto Garza, Jr., is retiring as superintendent at the end of |
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June 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garza was born and raised in San Isidro and |
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attended the University of Kansas before returning to Texas to earn |
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his bachelor's and master's degrees in education at The University |
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of Texas--Pan American; he began his career as a teacher with the |
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Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District in 1971 and joined |
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Edinburg CISD six years later; he soon embarked on an |
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administrative path and served as the principal of three elementary |
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schools before becoming director of elementary education; and |
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WHEREAS, In August 2006, Mr. Garza became acting |
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superintendent of ECISD, which serves a 945-square-mile area, |
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making it one of the geographically largest school districts in the |
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nation; he was appointed interim superintendent a few months later |
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and superintendent in April 2007; under his leadership, the |
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district has achieved outstanding academic results, and in 2008 the |
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Texas Education Agency designated 12 of its campuses as "exemplary" |
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and 15 as "recognized"; and |
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WHEREAS, The safe schools program directed by Mr. Garza has |
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placed police security officers at every one of the district's 27 |
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elementary schools and police security as well as certified police |
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officers at the 5 middle schools and 3 high schools; in addition, |
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Mr. Garza has led an extensive building and renovation program that |
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has included the addition of seven classroom wings, the |
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construction of a multimillion-dollar maintenance and facility |
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complex and an instructional technology complex, and the expansion |
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of a number of elementary school libraries; and |
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WHEREAS, Despite the turbulence in the national economy, |
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ECISD has maintained sound finances, and in May 2008, Mr. Garza was |
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instrumental in gaining community support for a school bond issue |
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of more than $100 million for the construction of new schools and |
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further renovations, now well under way; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Garza enjoys the love and |
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support of his wife, Anita Garza, and their children, Gilbert Garza |
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III and Gina Vela; and |
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WHEREAS, known for his fair and down-to-earth management |
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style, Gilberto Garza has demonstrated exemplary leadership and |
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dedication during his tenure as superintendent, and his noteworthy |
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contributions over the course of 38 years in education have greatly |
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benefited the children of the Rio Grande Valley; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Gilberto Garza, Jr., on his |
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retirement as superintendent of the Edinburg Consolidated |
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Independent School District and extend to him best wishes for |
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continued happiness as he embarks on a new chapter in his life; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Garza as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Peña |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2417 was adopted by the House on May |
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28, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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