[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    BOYER VALLEY 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 Boyer Valley 
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 Boyer Valley Community School District received a 2002 Harkin 
grant totaling $1 million which it used to help build an addition to 
the school in Dow City to provide a multipurpose room that could be 
used by the community as well as the school. The district collaborated 
with the City of Dunlap to build an addition to the middle/high school 
to house the community/school library. This school 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 school 
facility that every child in America deserves. The district also 
received a $25,000 fire safety grant.
  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 Boyer Valley Community School District. In particular, I would like 
to recognize the leadership of the board of education--Ken Dunham, Pat 
Putnam, Julie Wood, Steve Puck, Paul Klein, Mark McAllister, and Randy 
Mitchell, and former board members Roger Waderich, Theresa McAllister, 
Ruth Sherwood, Sam Cogdill, Sam Head, and Jane Davie as well as 
superintendent Thomas Vint and former superintendent Debra Johnsen. I 
would also like to recognize the city of Dow City and mayor Ace 
Ettleman, the city of Dunlap and treasurer Dwaine Hack and the late 
mayor Giles Lacey and the committee that worked to pass the bond 
referendum for the new schools.
  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 Boyer Valley 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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