81R33357 BPG-D

By: Vaught H.R. No. 2749

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission is honoring Lake Highlands Elementary School with an official historical marker commemorating its first 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Founded by the Richardson Independent School District on October 3, 1955, the first elementary school in Lake Highlands was built in sections and initially occupied a unit housing five classrooms and the office of its first principal, Bill Passmore; the principal's office was also used for other functions and held the school's piano; at the time, the entire district had only two buildings and fewer than 800 students; and

WHEREAS, The community strongly supported the new school, and the Parent Teachers Association established a variety of programs and events, including an annual carnival, to raise funds for furniture, fans, encyclopedias, and other supplies; in its second year, Lake Highlands Elementary doubled the size of its faculty and added six new classrooms, a visual education room, and a physical education room to serve almost 300 students; and

WHEREAS, Expanding rapidly, Lake Highlands Elementary reached an enrollment of 700 students in 25 classrooms by the 1961-1962 school year; after peaking at about 1,000 students in the 1970s, enrollment began to decline as the median age in surrounding neighborhoods increased, and RISD took advantage of available space to institute such specialized programs as bilingual education, prekindergarten, and one of its first centralized special education programs; another influx of younger residents in the early 1990s led the district to add extra kindergarten and first and second grade classes; and

WHEREAS, A complete renovation in 2001-2002 transformed the school, bringing a new library, computer lab, and main office space; under the leadership of current principal Kim Sullivan, the school's dedicated teachers have continued the proud Wildcat tradition of academic rigor, and Lake Highlands Elementary was named an Honor Roll Campus by the Texas Business & Education Coalition for 2007 and has consistently achieved the "recognized" designation from the Texas Education Agency; and

WHEREAS, For more than five decades, Lake Highlands Elementary has provided children of the Richardson Independent School District with a quality education, and the dedication of a historical marker is a fitting tribute to the enduring stature of this fine institution; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby congratulate all those associated with Lake Highlands Elementary School on the dedication of an official Texas State Historical Marker and extend to them best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.