|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, Proud community members are gathering in Austin on |
|
May 8, 2013, to celebrate Lancaster Independent School District Day |
|
at the State Capitol; and |
|
WHEREAS, Situated in southwest Dallas County, Lancaster ISD |
|
serves more than 6,000 students in seven elementary schools, one |
|
middle school, and one high school, as well as an alternative |
|
learning center and a sixth-grade learning center that focuses on |
|
instruction in science, technology, engineering, and math; and |
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Michael D. McFarland, who became superintendent |
|
of the district in May 2010, ably guides a staff of accomplished |
|
administrators, teachers, and support personnel, all of whom are |
|
committed to providing an outstanding education to area young |
|
people; in recent years, Lancaster ISD has made remarkable progress |
|
in closing achievement gaps, with pronounced improvements in such |
|
areas as test performance and college and career readiness; and |
|
WHEREAS, Based on data from 2011, the Texas Education Agency |
|
awarded the district 20 Gold Performance Acknowledgements, the most |
|
in the district's history, and assigned the "recognized" rating to |
|
six campuses, marking another district record; the following year, |
|
Lancaster ISD achieved membership in the Texas High Performing |
|
School Consortium, becoming one of only 22 districts to earn that |
|
honor, and received an Award of Distinction from the National |
|
Institute for Excellence in Teaching; several campuses have |
|
additionally won Title I National Distinguished School Awards; and |
|
WHEREAS, Far from resting on its laurels, Lancaster ISD has |
|
charted an ambitious path for the future; with the aid of a $4.8 |
|
million grant from the Texas Instruments Foundation, the district |
|
plans to implement an advanced science- and technology-based |
|
curriculum in each of its campuses and expects to become the first |
|
all-STEM district in the state; and |
|
WHEREAS, The Lancaster Independent School District has |
|
excelled in its mission to foster a challenging and supportive |
|
learning environment for young Texans, and the hard work and |
|
dedication demonstrated by its faculty, staff, and students are |
|
indeed worthy of commendation; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby recognize May 8, 2013, as Lancaster Independent |
|
School District Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those in |
|
attendance sincere best wishes for an enjoyable visit to Austin; |
|
and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for the district as an expression of high regard by the |
|
Texas House of Representatives. |