[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5527-S5528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  HONORING THE CAREER OF ARLO LEVISEN

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to publicly honor the 
career of Mr. Arlo Levisen, superintendent of the Grant-Duel School 
District. After 15 years of dedicated service as Grant-Duel's top 
administrator, Arlo is retiring.
  A native of Milbank, SD and son of a farmer and 40-year Grant County 
educator, Arlo graduated in 1962 from South Shore High School. He then 
went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree from Aberdeen's 
Northern State College in 1967, graduating with a degree in elementary 
education and history.
  Throughout the latter portion of the 1960s, Arlo taught at and was 
principal of various schools throughout South Dakota, including 
Yankton, Pine Ridge, Kyle, Lyman, and Deubrook School District. These 
diverse educational experiences allowed Arlo to understand and 
appreciate the various learning environments South Dakota has to offer.
  In 1979, in addition to his position as principal of Lyman School 
District's elementary and junior high schools, Arlo took on the 
responsibility of serving as commodity supervisor of the South Dakota 
Department of Education's Child and Adult Nutrition Services. There he 
was responsible for annually purchasing 22 million pounds of USDA 
commodities and distributing them to 600 South Dakota institutions and 
reservations.
  In 1984, Arlo became principal of the Pierre Indian Learning Center, 
a boarding school created solely for the purpose of educating Indian 
children with a history of behavioral disorders. As head of the 
learning center, Arlo oversaw 185 students ranging from first through 
eighth grades, as well as 40 staff members.
  Following his time at the Pierre Indian Learning Center, Arlo 
accepted the position as superintendent of the

[[Page S5528]]

Grant-Duel School District, where he has remained for the last decade 
and a half. Throughout his tenure at Grant-Duel, Arlo has enhanced the 
lives of countless students by broadening their educational 
opportunities. For instance, he was instrumental in opening Watertown 
High School's classes to Grant-Duel students, thus enabling his 
students to experience all that a larger school district has to offer. 
As a result of this initiative, Grand-Duel students are often better 
prepared and able to adjust quickly to the enormous campus life that 
many encounter in college.
  Additionally, Arlo played a vital role in establishing the Minnesota 
Border Schools Coalition, an association created to discuss and 
implement South Dakota and Minnesota's open enrollment policy. Not only 
is Arlo the current president of the organization, but under his 
leadership and direction, Grant-Duel School was the first school to 
accept a Minnesota student.
  Throughout the years, thousands of students have benefited from 
Arlo's commitment to educational excellence, as have his colleagues. In 
1991, Arlo helped establish and chair The South Dakota School Group 
Insurance Pool, a health insurance pool created to make affordable 
health insurance available to Grant-Duel faculty.
  In addition to the hours he puts in as superintendent of the Grant-
Duel School District, Arlo is vice-chairman of the board of directors 
for Pierre Odyssey World, Inc., he is a member of Capital City Bass 
Bandits, a volunteer advisor to the U.S. Forest Service, a member of 
the High Plains Wildlife Federation, and county chairman of the Hughes 
County Democratic Party.
  The lives of countless people have been enormously enhanced by Arlo's 
talent and leadership as superintendent of the Grant-Duel School 
District. The State of South Dakota is a better place because of his 
commitment to and passion for academic excellence; his achievement will 
serve as a model for other talented educators and administrators 
throughout our State to emulate. On the occasion of his retirement, I 
congratulate Arlo for his tireless commitment to quality education in 
South Dakota, and I wish him and his family the very best.

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