[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BEDFORD 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 Bedford 
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 Bedford Community School District received several Harkin fire 
safety grants totaling $174,000 which it used to improve fire safety 
systems and included such things as emergency lighting and exit doors, 
new wiring and other electrical improvements, heat detectors, and 
sprinkler systems. The auditorium which was built in 1926 was renovated 
and the grant was used to update the wiring, install heat detectors and 
replace exit doors. The district had been cited by the State Fire 
Marshall for severe deficiencies in fire safety. 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 superintendent Joe Drake and the entire staff, 
administration, and governance in the Bedford Community School 
District. In particular, I'd like to recognize the leadership of the 
board of education--president Tony Brown, Layne Thornton, Mike Irvin, 
Ed Hensley, Jack Spencer and Rodger Ritchie. District staff who were 
helpful in the grant application and implementation process were 
business manager Sharon Hart, grant writer Paul Boysen, and buildings 
and grounds supervisor Dan Walston.
  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 to do better.
  That is why I am deeply grateful to the professionals and parents in 
the Bedford 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.

                          ____________________