[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BADGER SCHOOL DISTRICT, BADGER, MINNESOTA

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I honor Badger School 
District, in Badger, MN, which will soon receive an Award for 
Excellence in Education for its exceptional and innovative achievements 
in educating children.
  Badger School is truly a model of educational success. The school is 
dedicated to insuring that all students are prepared to function 
successfully and contribute to our ever-expanding world of technology 
and knowledge. Realizing that education is a multifaceted system 
involving the school, community, family, and governing bodies, Badger 
has developed an innovative curriculum that challenges students to 
achieve higher standards.
  To prepare students to succeed in a global economy, Badger School 
recently received a grant to implement Project Lead the Way, a pre-
engineering curriculum that promotes the integration of science, math, 
technology, and engineering. The district has also partnered with 
Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam and has a sister school 
in Hanoi. Through this partnership, the children are learning about 
cultural diversity and helping those less fortunate.
  Badger School District serves 217 students in kindergarten through 
grade 12. The elementary school was recognized by the Minnesota 
Department of Education as a four-star school in reading and as a five-
star school in math in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, the school received five 
stars in both subjects. Badger Secondary School received a three-star 
rating in math and reading in 2004 and improved to a four-star rating 
in math in 2005. As further testimony to the exemplary performance of 
Badger School District, the district was named an outperformer in math 
and reading based on academic achievement levels compared with the 
percentage of economically disadvantaged students in the district by 
Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services.
  Much of the credit for Badger School District's success belongs to 
its principal and superintendent, Gwen Borgen, and the dedicated 
teachers. The students and staff at Badger School District understand 
that in order to be successful a school must go beyond achieving 
academic success; it must also provide a nurturing environment where 
students can develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for success 
throughout life. All of the faculty, staff, and students at Badger 
School District should be very proud of their accomplishments.
  I congratulate Badger School District in Badger for winning the Award 
for Excellence in Education and for its exceptional contributions to 
education in Minnesota.

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