[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VALPARAISO COMMUNITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 29, 1997

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to take this 
opportunity to congratulate the Valparaiso Community School System. 
Valparaiso placed in the top 10 percent of 15,893 school systems 
nationwide, and it was named a 1997 ``What Parents Want'' award winner 
by SchoolMatch, an Ohio-based school selection consulting firm. I would 
especially like to recognize Valparaiso Community School System's 
superintendent, Michael Benway, and its director of secondary 
education, Glen Gambel, for their significant roles in this 
distinguished achievement.
  The ``What Parents Want'' award was established 6 years ago by school 
administrators concerned about negative publicity surrounding public 
education. In making its decision, SchoolMatch uses information from 
county and State auditors, State taxing authorities, and State boards 
of education. To assess a school's qualifications, the firm uses a 
checklist of what parents look for when deciding which school system is 
best for their children. The seven-point list includes: 
competitiveness; academically solid, but not intimidating, testing; 
accreditation; recognition by a national foundation or by the U.S. 
Department of Education; competitive teacher salaries; above-average 
instructional expenditures; above-average library and media 
expenditures; and small class size.
  The award is especially meaningful for the Valparaiso Community 
School System since SchoolMatch is a prominent organization that 
performs its own extensive research to determine which schools meet the 
above criteria.
  With families increasingly having to relocate for job related 
purposes, SchoolMatch provides an invaluable service to parents with 
school-age children. SchoolMatch is used by a number of large 
corporations as they help relocating employees match their expectations 
with a school system in the area of relocation. The program has gained 
national recognition, as more than 48,000 parents contacted 
SchoolMatch's headquarters in Columbus, OH, last year.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending the Valparaiso Community School System on its receipt 
of this prestigious award. The dedication of Valparaiso's teachers and 
administrators to the education of citizens in the Valparaiso community 
is truly inspirational.

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