H*3873 Resolution, By Erickson, Bowers, Bradley, Herbkersman, W. Newton, 
M. Rivers, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, 
Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bedingfield, Bennett, Bernstein, 
Blackwell, Brown, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, 
Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, 
Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, 
Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, 
Henegan, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, 
Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, 
McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McKnight, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy, 
B. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, S. Rivers, 
Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, 
J.E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, 
Thigpen, Toole, Weeks, West, Wheeler, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, 
Willis and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LAURA AM BUSH FOR HER DEDICATED
 SERVICE AS A BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE FOR BLUFFTON DISTRICT
 9, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS AND
 HAPPINESS IN ALL OF HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   03/02/17  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 3)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LAURA AM BUSH FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE AS A BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE FOR BLUFFTON DISTRICT 9, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL OF HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, Laura AM Bush, having served Beaufort County School District faithfully since 1987, is leaving the position she has filled with distinction to begin a new chapter of service with the foundation "It's Better to Give Fund"; and

Whereas, during her tenure with the Beaufort County Board of Education, which has spanned seven superintendents of education, Laura Bush has tirelessly served in the various roles of secretary, board vice chair, and board chair; and

Whereas, the consummate professional, she is highly respected by local school board trustees who have sought her counsel on a daily basis, and she has consistently proven her keen ability to work with school leaders of various backgrounds, ideologies, and political affiliations; and

Whereas, always willing to assist others, Ms. Bush has often shared her expertise with government officials and her counterparts in other states and with university-level education students; and

Whereas, she is admired by her colleagues for providing a calm focus and moral compass and for constantly centering on the positive, returning the spotlight to educational progress, and serving as the trustees' sense of reason, especially in times of crisis. In addition, she has created an environment of fairness, high expectations, and encouragement among her peers, recognizing the value of each board member; and

Whereas, Ms. Bush helped to plan the K-8 program for the Daufuskie Community, the construction of eight new schools in the Bluffton Community, the planning and completion of Whale Branch Early College High School, and the opening of Early Childhood Centers on time and under budget; and

Whereas, under her leadership, a more comprehensive Extended Learning Program and standardized curriculum have been established, and four schools were ranked as Excellent by the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee; and

Whereas, significant improvements in student achievement during Ms. Bush's tenure have included all grades 3-8 scoring above national averages in all subjects, Beaufort County School District being named one of Colin Powell's 100 BEST, and establishment of the first public charter school in Beaufort County; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the exemplary work that Laura Bush has devoted to the board and the positive impact she has wielded on the Beaufort County School District, helping to set the district on a level path through a time of significant growth in population and growth in expectations for educational standards and ensuring opportunities necessary for Beaufort County schools to maintain an excellent quality as a competitive school system. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Laura AM Bush for her dedicated service as a Beaufort County Board of Education trustee for Bluffton District 9, upon the occasion of her retirement, and wish her much success and happiness in all of her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Laura AM Bush.