[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    USA TODAY RECOGNITION OF WAYNE VALLEY (NJ) HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

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                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 1996

  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I am taking this opportunity today to 
commend the community of Wayne, NJ and its educators for their 
commitment to excellence in education. In the third article of a five-
part series currently running in USA Today, the Wayne Valley High 
School District was specifically cited as an education system worth 
migrating to.
  This May 15, 1996, article on education in the United States focused 
on the importance of residential location and school districting when 
families make decisions on where to raise families. The story pointed 
out that ``real estate agents, appraisers, home builders, and tax 
authorities overwhelmingly agree that proximity to high-quality schools 
is now the No. 1 factor in determining what a home is worth in any 
given market.''
  Citing schools as her top priority, the article specifically 
mentioned Ms. Alice Li of Wayne, NJ. Ten years ago the Li family, with 
very young daughter Winnie, moved from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. 
Although her daughter was very young, Ms. Li cited the talented and 
gifted program of the Wayne School District as an important factor 
which brought them to the 8th district.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Li had the foresight to plan for young Winnie's 
future education. The result: Winnie has scored perfectly three 
straight years on the National Latin Exam, is the editor of the school 
newspaper, and will graduate Wayne Valley High with a 4.0 grade point 
average. It comes as no surprise that with such strong academic 
credentials, Winnie will attend Harvard University in the fall. I 
commend Winnie for her achievements and certainly wish her continued 
success in Cambridge, MA.
  Mr. Speaker, this article is just another example of how vital 
quality school systems are to our communities. Without responsible 
teachers and challenging curricula in place, towns and cities have very 
little to offer parents and would be residents. Strengthening education 
programs remain a top priority for me and I will continue to work 
toward raising the standards by which our schools measure themselves. I 
am pleased that Wayne, NJ and one its stand-out pupils have been 
recognized in this capacity.
  Again, I commend Ms. Alice Li, her daughter Winnie, and the Wayne 
Valley High School District.

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