[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE NEW SAN MATEO HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the opening of the 
new San Mateo High School and the dedication of the Thomas C. Mohr 
Clock Tower, in my Congressional district. San Mateo High School has 
been on the same property since 1927, but is being rebuilt so that once 
again the splendor of the school and the extraordinary students who 
attend will be paired with the elegant architecture they so richly 
deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of San Mateo County agreed in the year 2000 
that the six high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District 
were in need of repairs. Unfortunately shortly after the renovation of 
San Mateo High School was initiated it became clear that the existing 
structure was seismically unsafe. As a result of this discovery, the 
students and staff suddenly found themselves facing a complete 
reconstruction of their school and were moved into modular classrooms, 
which have been used for the past four years.
  The principal architect of the reconstruction bonds for the San Mateo 
Union High School District and San Mateo High School is the former 
superintendent Thomas C. Mohr. Now hopefully enjoying a peaceful 
retirement, Superintendent Mohr spent a distinguished 43-year career in 
public education, working as a teacher, counselor, principal, district 
level administrator and Superintendent. His strong leadership and 
devotion to the school district led to the clock tower being named 
after him.
  Like any construction project, there were certainly bumps in the road 
during the past four years but I was delighted to witness how the whole 
community has come together around the school not only through voting 
for a bond to revitalize the school but through groups such as the San 
Mateo High School Foundation, Parent Teacher Organization, Booster 
Groups and Alumni, which raised funds for an open air amphitheatre and 
new all-weather track, among other improved amenities.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the community for undertaking the renovation 
and necessary seismic updates. The extraordinarily beautiful building 
incorporates many parts of the historic structure, down to murals and 
the ``haphazardly placed bricks,'' as the architect Paul Bunton 
appropriately describes them. The new modern structure has expanded the 
size of the school by 46,000 square feet, yet kept the historic facade. 
After a somewhat arduous four year project the 1425 students along with 
the faculty, staff and community as a whole should be commended for 
their patience in seeing this important project through. On October 15, 
2005, the school will officially be dedicated and I ask my colleagues 
to join me in celebrating the opening of new San Mateo High School and 
the Dedication of the Thomas C. Mohr Clock Tower.

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