[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMENDING WOODROW WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 18, 2000

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, today I highlight the Woodrow Wilson 
Elementary School, in my hometown of Corona, as a model of cooperation 
between local governments and private home builders--a partnership 
which will become more important as California will need more than 
2,000 new schools in the next 20 years.
  As a former active realtor, I was pleased to dedicate, on September 
29, this first permanent, developer-built school in California. Thanks 
go to: Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante; President Jose Lakas and the 
Corona-Norco School Board Members; Mayor Jeff Bennett and the City 
Council; and, finally, my good friend, Jim Previti for helping to make 
this school possible.
  The Census Bureau reports that state and local governments spent $40 
billion in 1999 on construction, modernization, and renovation of 
public education facilities in the United States--up 54 percent from 
1995. In addition, elementary schools typically take 30 to 48 months to 
complete. However, Turn Key Schools of America and Forecast Homes, who 
designed and constructed this school, along with the Corona-Norco 
Unified School District, raised the bar. They were able to complete 
this school in just 13 months and well below the average construction 
cost of an elementary school thereby saving taxpayers millions of 
dollars. This partnership demonstrates what local communities and 
private businesses can accomplish when they work together.
  Our 28th President, Woodrow Wilson was a lawyer, author, educator, 
administrator, Governor, and President. Education played an important 
role in his life. Prior to the Presidency, Woodrow Wilson's progressive 
programs and innovations were fostered as President of Princeton 
University. Finding new and better ways to meet the educational needs 
of our children, which is what was accomplished with the construction 
of this school, is an idea that would have fit nicely with Woodrow 
Wilson's school of thought.
  Mr. Speaker, I am committed to making sure that every education 
dollar is well spent. This means allowing local school districts, 
principals and teachers to decide where and how education dollars can 
best be used, which includes ensuring that schools are built in a 
timely and cost-effective manner. I am also committed to allowing 
greater flexibility for the states and local governments to enter into 
such partnerships which allow the design of child-centered facilities 
and programs run by caring teachers and principals who know the names 
of each child.
  I want every child to have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams--
that could mean becoming a nurse, a teacher, an Olympic athlete, or 
becoming the President of the United States. All of those dreams can 
start becoming a reality sooner at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School 
because of the innovative thinking behind its construction.
  Woodrow Wilson once stated, ``This is the country which has lifted, 
to the admiration of the world, its ideals of absolutely free 
opportunity--where no man is supposed to be under any limitation except 
the limitations of his character and of his mind; where there is 
supposed to be no distinction of class, no distinction of blood, no 
distinction of social status, but where men win or lose on their 
merits.'' Our goal is to ensure that all schools afford all children 
the opportunity to pursue their dreams. For the students at Woodrow 
Wilson Elementary School, those dreams take shape in the halls and 
classroom.
  The partnership which made this school a reality is a win-win 
situation for everybody--it cuts the bureaucratic redtape for the local 
school district, it relieves the over-crowded schools in the area, and 
it saves taxpayers million of dollars. However, the most important 
winners at Woodrow Wilson Elementary are the students who now have a 
brandnew, state-of-the-art school where they can begin their 
educational journey and realize their hopes and dreams.
  I applaud all of those who had a hand in this innovation. Our 
community is proud of you and grateful for your vision.

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