[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANUTILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL 
                                DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 2009

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Canutillo 
Independent School District located in the Sixteenth Congressional 
District of Texas. This school district is celebrating its 50th 
anniversary on April 18, 2009. I was born and raised in Canutillo, and 
I have proudly represented the people of Canutillo for the past twelve 
years in Congress.
  In 1959, the community of Canutillo worked diligently to establish a 
school district because too many students were forced to leave school 
after the eighth grade. Fifty years ago, the closest high school was 21 
miles away, and many families could not afford to send their children 
to a distant school because no school buses were provided for high 
school students in Canutillo, and the community worked together to find 
a solution. The history of the Canutillo Independent School District 
(CISD) is a strong testament to us, the people of Canutillo, and our 
dedication and commitment to educational opportunities for students.
  Our first superintendent, Joseph MacDougall, was committed to these 
values and laid a strong foundation for the school district. Mr. 
MacDougall initiated much needed social services, including youth 
sports programs, health services for the elderly, and the Head Start 
initiative for pre-school children. In 1963, Canutillo ISD graduated 
its first senior class, and by 1964, student enrollment reached 1,013 
students.
  The district faced and overcame significant challenges during the 
early years. At one point 36 community residents borrowed $1,000 each 
from the Coronado State Bank and loaned those funds to the district so 
that it could make payroll for faculty and staff. In 1965 there was a 
hepatitis outbreak that forced Canutillo ISD to shut down its water 
wells until the source of the disease was identified and nearly every 
student in the district was inoculated as a precaution. This led El 
Paso to extend water services to portions of Canutillo. In 1966 there 
was an attempt by the Anthony School District to annex about five acres 
of Canutillo ISD land. The issue was settled when State Education 
Commissioner J.W. Edgar ruled in favor of Canutillo. This case is the 
basis for landmark state legislation which prohibits one school 
district from annexing the property of another without an agreement 
between both school boards. Overcoming these challenges was difficult, 
but the community and the school district are stronger because of them.
  And that community support has never wavered as demonstrated by the 
1999 ballot initiative in which 96 percent of voters passed a 
referendum to build a new high school. In April 2003, Canutillo ISD 
voters again gave their vote of confidence and passed another bond 
issue for district-wide maintenance and renovation projects. The new 
Canutillo High School opened in January 2006 with nearly 1,300 
students; the population has now grown to 1,600.
  The community of Canutillo knew 50 years ago that investing in our 
children's education would pay dividends in the future, particularly 
for underprivileged students. Today, we can see the results of those 
efforts. Our graduates proudly serve in occupations ranging from 
military and law enforcement officers, to doctors, nurses, judges, 
professors and school principals.
  As a member of the second graduating class of Canutillo High School, 
it is my honor to congratulate the school board, faculty, and staff of 
the Canutillo Independent School District and to thank the community of 
Canutillo for their commitment to our students.

                          ____________________