[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 GEORGE-LITTLE ROCK 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 
George-Little Rock 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 George-Little Rock Community School District received a 2005 
Harkin grant totaling $500,000 which it used to help renovate an old 
gymnasium into a fine arts center and two accessible special education 
classrooms. This addition 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 facility that every child in 
America deserves. The district also received two fire safety grants 
totaling $44,900 which it used to install smoke and heat detectors and 
update fire alarm notification systems throughout the district.
  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 George-Little Rock Community School District. In particular, I 
would like to recognize the leadership of the board of education 
president--Warren Tiedeman, Terrence Clark, Donell Nagel, Amy Jurrens, 
Doug Krull and board secretary Delinda Kruger as well as former board 
members Roger Jurrens and Kory Hayenga. I would also like to recognize 
superintendent David Ackerman; former superintendent Joanne Smith; 
elementary and middle school principal Janel Guse; the teaching and 
custodial staff of George-Little Rock; the team of architects at 
Neumann, Monson and Wictor; Hoogendoorn Construction; the membership of 
the project steering committee; and the staff of the Little Rock 
Freelance and the Lyon County News.
  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 to do better.
  That is why I am deeply grateful to the professionals and parents in 
the George-Little Rock Community School District. There is no question 
that a quality public education for every child is a top priority in 
their communities. I salute them, and wish them a very successful new 
school year.

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