[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING McMILLAN ELEMENTARY AS AN AWARDEE OF THE NATIONAL BLUE-
                                 RIBBON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BEN McADAMS

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2019

  Mr. McADAMS. Madam Speaker, parents, teachers and students in the 
Murray City School District are celebrating the 2019 National Blue-
Ribbon Schools award to McMillan Elementary School. This award brings 
public attention to the best schools in America. Fittingly, it was the 
brainchild of a former Utah Commissioner of Higher Education--Terrel H. 
Bell--who served as Education Secretary under President Ronald Reagan. 
Dr. Bell believed that through the real action of teaching and 
learning, families and educators could work together to articulate a 
vision of excellence. He believed that by holding everyone to high 
standards, local schools could become the best at preparing their 
students for academic success.
  The 498 students of McMillan Elementary, their teachers, Principal 
Joy Sanford, and parents, have risen to the challenge. The school is 
named for a family who formerly owned the property around the school. 
It is the only school in the Murray School District to be named after a 
local family. Education is vitally important to this community. Home to 
the Murray District Gifted and Talented Program, McMillan Elementary 
held its first Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Night, 
featuring local business professionals who spoke about rewarding 
careers in those fields.
  Public schools nominated for the National Blue-Ribbon Schools award 
must be top-performers in the state on English and math assessments and 
must meet their state's performance targets such as attendance and 
graduation rates for all student groups. The National Blue-Ribbon 
School award acknowledges and validates the hard work of students, 
educators, families and communities. McMillan Elementary now serves as 
a model of effective school practices. Others will look to them for how 
to achieve academic success. Dr. Bell would be very proud. Principal 
Sanford should be very proud. Everyone associated with education in 
Utah salutes McMillan Elementary School's success and congratulates 
them on receiving this prestigious award.

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