[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 141 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    COMMENDING CLEAR CREEK EDUCATION

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, in Iowa and across the United 
States, a new school year has begun. As you know, Iowa public schools 
have an excellent reputation nationwide, and Iowa students' test scores 
are among the highest in the Nation.
  I would like to take just a few minutes today to salute the dedicated 
teachers, administrators, and school board members in the Clear Creek 
Amana Community School District, and to report on their participation 
in a unique Federal partnership to repair and modernize school 
facilities.
  This fall marks the 10th year of the Iowa Demonstration Construction 
Grant Program. That is its formal name, but it is better known among 
educators in Iowa as the program of Harkin grants for Iowa public 
schools. Since 1998, I have been fortunate to secure a total of $121 
million for the State government in Iowa, which selects worthy school 
districts to receive these grants for a range of renovation and repair 
efforts--everything from updating fire safety systems to building new 
schools or renovating existing facilities. In many cases, this Federal 
funding is used to leverage public and/or private local funding, so it 
often has a tremendous multiplier effect in a local school district.
  The Clear Creek Amana Community School District received a 2005 
Harkin grant totaling $500,000, which it used to help build North Bend 
Elementary School in North Liberty. This school is a modern, state-of-
the-art facility that befits the educational ambitions and excellence 
of this school district. Indeed, it is the kind of school facility that 
every child in America deserves.
  Excellent new schools like North Bend Elementary do not just pop up 
like mushrooms after a rain. They are the product of vision, 
leadership, persistence, and a tremendous amount of collaboration among 
local officials and concerned citizens. I salute the dedicated 
educators in the Clear Creek Amana School District, which serves the 
towns of Tiffin, Oxford and North Liberty, as well as the historic 
Amana Colonies. The district has 1,420 students in grades K-12, and is 
growing steadily. It takes great pride in its teaching staff of 118 
fully certified teachers, more than 30 percent of whom have been with 
the district at least 15 years. To have so many long-serving teachers 
is unusual in education today, and it speaks volumes about the quality 
of this school district, as well as the dedication and loyalty of its 
teaching staff.
  I salute the entire staff, administration, and governance in the 
Clear Creek Amana district. In particular, I would like to recognize 
the leadership of Lisa Green-Douglas and Jeanne Goldsmith who served as 
the cochairs of the committee that won passage of the $25.5 million 
bond issue to build a new elementary school and a new high school in 
the district. I would also like to recognize the members of the school 
board: Jim Seelman, Don Schaapveld, Tim Hennes, Kathi Huebner, Kevin 
Kinney, Elizabeth Momany, Matthew Croco, and Kathy Zimmerman as well as 
Superintendent Paula Vincent and elementary school principal Brenda 
Parker.
  As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Harkin school grant program in 
Iowa, I am obliged to point out that many thousands of school buildings 
and facilities across the United States are in dire need of renovation 
or replacement. In my State of Iowa alone, according to a recent study, 
some 79 percent of public schools need to be upgraded or repaired. The 
harsh reality is that the average age of school buildings in the United 
States is nearly 50 years.
  Too often, our children visit ultra-modern shopping malls and 
gleaming sports arenas on weekends, but during the week go to school in 
rundown or antiquated facilities. This sends exactly the wrong message 
to our young people about our priorities. We have got to do better.
  That is why I am deeply grateful to the professionals and parents in 
the Clear Creek Amana School District. There is no question that a 
quality public education for every child is a top priority in that 
community. I salute them and wish them a very successful new school 
year.




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