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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant and |
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unprecedented challenges on teachers, students, and school staff in |
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El Paso, requiring them to adjust and adapt to new changes, methods, |
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and policies during a prolonged public health crisis; and |
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WHEREAS, On March 13, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott declared a |
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state of disaster in Texas due to the spread of the novel |
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coronavirus; although El Paso schools and school districts took |
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immediate action to protect the safety of students and faculty, the |
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protracted nature of the crisis has exposed the limitations of |
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remote learning, especially for students who do not have ready |
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access to the technology necessary to take advantage of it; and |
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WHEREAS, El Paso teachers have demonstrated tremendous |
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dedication to educating youth in these extraordinary |
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circumstances, and they have shown a great deal of passion, |
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creativity, and patience in accommodating the needs of all of their |
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students in a virtual learning environment; at times, they have |
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assumed considerable personal risk in returning to their classrooms |
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for in-person instruction, especially as educators have only |
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recently been added to the priority list for COVID-19 vaccinations; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Students' lives have also been deeply impacted by |
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the pandemic, social distancing, and safety protocols; due to the |
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"digital divide" and the prevalence of full-time virtual learning, |
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some students have fallen behind their peers academically, while |
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many others have experienced stress, anxiety, and loneliness as a |
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result of being away from their classrooms, friends, and |
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extracurricular activities; and |
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WHEREAS, The students, teachers, and school employees of El |
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Paso deserve recognition for their resilience in coping with a |
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pandemic that has disrupted public education in profound ways, and |
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this uncertain time in our history has only highlighted the vast |
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importance of our educators and the work that they do to ensure that |
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all young Texans have the opportunity to succeed; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor El Paso teachers, students, and school |
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staff for their hard work to overcome the difficulties of teaching |
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and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and extend to them |
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sincere best wishes for the future. |