[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WESTERN 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 Western 
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 Western Dubuque Community School District received two Harkin 
grants totaling $1.5 million which it used to help with several 
projects in the district. A 2001 construction grant for $500,000 was 
used to help build a new school in Epworth, an addition to the Cascade 
school to provide classrooms for preschool and kindergarten programs 
and for additions for career education to the district's two high 
schools. The district received a $1 million grant in 2002 to help build 
pre-kindergarten classrooms in Farley and Peosta. 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 in America 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 Western Dubuque Community School District. In particular, I'd like 
to recognize the leadership of the current board of education--Robert 
McCabe, Jeanne Coppola, Barb Weber, Mark Knuth, Gary McAndrew and 
former board members June Brandenburg, Tom Gassman, Dr. Tom Miner, John 
Howard, Nancy Ludwig and John Perrenoud. I would also like to recognize 
superintendent Jeff Corkery, former superintendents Harold Knutsen, Bev 
Goerdt and Wayne Drexler, director of buildings and grounds Bob 
Hingtgen, business manager Dave Wegeman and the members of the Kids 
First Committee, Cascade Area Resource for Education--CARE--and Bobcat 
Capital Support Foundation.
  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 Western 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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