[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 145 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CENTRAL DECATUR COMMUNITY 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 
Central Decatur 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 Central Decatur Community School District received two Harkin 
grants totaling $947,775 which it used to help build additions to two 
schools in Leon. The district built an addition to South Elementary 
which serves students in prekindergarten through third grade and also 
built the North Elementary addition to the high school. The school 
board is to be commended for thinking to the future by incorporating an 
energy efficient geothermal system at the North Elementary building. 
These schools are the modern, state-of-the-art facilities that befit 
the educational ambitions and excellence of this school district. 
Indeed, they are the kind of school facilities that every child 
deserves.
  Excellent schools 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 entire staff, administration, and governance in 
the Central Decatur Community School District. In particular, I would 
like to recognize the leadership of the board of education president 
Mike Frost, vice president Jack Parsons, Rose Saxton, Mike Stuck and 
Igor Takacs and former board members Nick Morrell, Gary Hayworth, Dave 
Smith, Brent Buckingham and Jim Lafleur. I would also like to recognize 
superintendent Tucker Lillis, former superintendent Steve Williams and 
key supporters of the bond referendum, Jerry Parsons, Gene Binning and 
Peg Erke.
  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 ultramodern 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 Central Decatur Community 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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