[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8942-S8943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DUBUQUE 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 
Dubuque 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 Dubuque Community School District received a 2002 Harkin grant 
totaling $260,000 which it used to help install elevators at Fulton 
Elementary and Bryant Elementary. The district also received three fire 
safety grants totaling $654,089 to make fire alarm improvements at 
Dubuque Senior High School, Hempstead High School and Jefferson Junior 
High School and to make safety improvements at Washington Junior High 
School. The Federal grants have made it possible for the district to 
provide quality and safe schools for their students.
  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 Dubuque Community School District. In particular, I would like to 
recognize the leadership of the board of education president--Larry 
Loeppke, vice president Donna Bauerly, Mike Brannon, George Davis, Otto 
Krueger, Adam Menning and David Patton, and former board members Parker 
Bauer, Michelle Covey, Eldon Herrig, Steve Hodge, Jay Schiesl, Ed 
Zaccaro, Karen Behr, Doug Horstmann, Tonya Thul-Theis, Tom Barton, 
Cammie Dean and Ted Strieber. I would also like to recognize 
superintendent John Burgart, former superintendent Dr. Jane Petrek, 
former executive director of business services Joseph Link, former 
manager of building and grounds Robert S. White, Sr., former Jefferson 
Principal Duane Frick, former Washington principal Art Roling, former 
senior high principal Larry Mitchell, former Hempstead principal David 
Olson, former Bryant principal Lesley

[[Page S8943]]

Stephens and former Fulton principal Roy Hansen.
  As we mark the tenth 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 to do better.
  That is why I am deeply grateful to the professionals and parents in 
the Dubuque 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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