Tribute to Ms. Margaret Ann Abdalla CONGRESSMAN ADAM B. SCHIFF OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, December 08, 2003 Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding citizen of California's 29th Congressional District, Margaret Ann Abdalla. Ms. Abdalla has served on the South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education for 16 years and has been a positive force in the greater South Pasadena area for much longer. A Southern California native and University of Southern California graduate, Margaret Ann moved to South Pasadena in 1969. She began her community service by volunteering with the South Pasadena Parent Teacher Association, Little League, and South Pasadena Educational Foundation. Ms. Abdalla also raised three children, Lisa, Tony and Alex, all who attended South Pasadena's public schools. In 1987, Margaret Ann was elected to the South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education. Ms. Abdalla has worked with several board members and four superintendents during her tenure, serving as Board President three times. Under her leadership, some of the Board's accomplishments include the passage of two school bond measures in 1995 and 2002, the formation and bonding of today's administrative team, and the transition of the junior high to a middle school program 12 years ago. In 1996, Margaret Ann was the recipient of the South Pasadena Parent Teacher Association's Honorary Service Award for meritorious service. As a member of the South Pasadena School Board, Margaret Ann participated in organizations such as the California School Boards Association, the Downtown Revitalization Task Force and the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project. In addition, Ms. Abdalla was a founding member of the Five-Star Coalition, a coalition of the Burbank, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena and South Pasadena School Districts, established for the purpose of collaborating with local legislators on issues of mutual interest to the school districts. The time, energy and love Margaret Ann has given to the community are extraordinary, and the residents of South Pasadena have benefited greatly. At this time, I ask all Members to join with me in commending Margaret Ann Abdalla for her many years of dedicated service to the South Pasadena community.