MERCEDES — Federal and state lawmakers are in town this week to participate in South Texas ISD’s inaugural Legislator Days.
Senators and congressmen planned to tour STISD’s six campuses as part of the three-day event, which was scheduled to begin Tuesday with representation from the offices of District 27, State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., and Congressional District 34, U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, visiting the Rising Scholars Academy in San Benito and the Medical Academy in Olmito.
A luncheon was to follow the festivities.
Wednesday, State Reps. Terry Canales, District 40, and Sergio Muñoz Jr., District 36, will be in Edinburg for tours of the BETA and STPA campuses. Lucio and State Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra of District 41 will also be on-hand for a luncheon that day.
In Mercedes, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, District 15, will be joined by District 39 State Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez and representation from the office of District 35 State Rep. Oscar Longoria. They’ll be touring the Science Academy and Med High campuses in Mercedes from 9 to 10 a.m. and 10:05 to 11:05 a.m., respectively.
The Mercedes luncheon is on tap from 11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. at Med High.
Amanda Odom, public relations and marketing coordinator for South Texas ISD, identified the event as a coordinated effort to bring legislators into the classroom and introduce students to their elected officials.
“Tours will be taking legislators to actual classrooms led by students and administrators, who will give first-hand knowledge of what’s going on behind the scenes,” Odom said on Monday.
“This is where they can see some of the core classes but also the health science and career and technology programs. We’ll also be highlighting the summer symposium opportunities we had.”
Referring to the experience as an opportunity for the state and federal officials to “see the fruits of their labor,” Odom also identified a sense of excitement at the campuses over the access they’ll have to the legislators.
“I think there is a large amount of enthusiasm leading up to the event,” she said.
“In the planning of this event, we wanted it to be something that really had the students as the focus. That’s why the tours will be student-led, and the opportunities for legislators attending to interact with student and staff members to see what is really going on inside the classroom is something they don’t see too often. So there’s excitement both ways. The legislators are looking forward to it and we’re look forward to it as well.”
