[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 121 (Friday, September 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1708-E1709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO RICK KNOTT UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED 
                            SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 2003

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Richard 
Knott on his retirement after 30 years of service to the San Diego 
Unified School District. It is an honor to recognize the contributions 
that Rick has made to this school district and to our Nation during his 
career.
  Rick has dedicated his life to the education system and has had 
numerous accomplishments throughout his 30 years with the San Diego 
Unified School District, the National Association of Federally Impact 
Schools, NAFIS, as well as many other education-related organizations.
  I personally have worked closely with Rick in his role as the 
Controller of the San Diego Unified School District, and as a member of 
the Board of Directors of NAFIS. As a member of the NAFIS board, Rick 
has been an advocate of the Impact Aid program, a program designed to 
reimburse school districts for a loss of tax revenue as a result of a 
Federal presence. Rick has worked not only to increase funding for the 
Federal Impact Aid program, but also to ensure that the program's 
authorizing law is applied fairly to school districts, and maximizes 
the value of the program dollars.
  On behalf of San Diego Unified, Rick has sought to ensure that the 
school district is receiving its fair share of impact aid dollars under 
the law. In addition to being a liaison to the Department of Education 
for the school district's basic support payments, Rick aggressively 
sought new sources of Impact Aid dollars. Rick even identified a 
section of the law, Section 8002, that had previously not applied to 
the district. Since 1994, Section 8002 has yielded in excess of $35 
million for students in San Diego. Through Rick's work, San Diego City 
Schools identified and qualified for Voluntary Integration funding 
resulting in over $100 million of income to the district since 
1985. This was done at the time when districts were not thought to 
qualify for the Voluntary Integration fund. Rick has drafted several 
legislative concepts and language to increase funding to the district 
or improve business/finance operation at both the Federal and State 
levels. Rick has also been asked to testify before the U.S. Congress, 
House of Representatives Subcommittee on Education to discuss the 
importance of Federal Impact Aid issues.

  I would also like to thank Rick for his service to the 50th District 
of California. Rick frequently joked with me about the strong voting

[[Page E1709]]

block that he controlled--that of his wife and children--in my 
Congressional District. Rick worked hard to ensure that my staff and I 
maintained a thorough understanding of the Impact Aid law, and the 
issues and challenges facing the program. This program is important to 
my Congressional District because of the presence of a number of large 
military installations. Rick's dedication to strengthening and 
improving this program has improved educational opportunities for 
military children in my Congressional district, and for military and 
Indian children all across our country.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Richard Knott on this 
occasion of his retirement from the San Diego Unified School District 
for his dedication to education and his continued role in enriching the 
lives of students in my district and across the country. I thank him 
for his service and wish him continued success in the future.

                          ____________________