[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10172-S10173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SOUTHEAST POLK 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 Southeast 
Polk 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 Southeast Polk Community School District received several Harkin 
grants totaling $2,486,943 which it used to help modernize and make 
safety improvements throughout the district. The district received four 
construction grants totaling $2,108,922 to help build a new school in 
Runnells, to help provide additional classrooms at Mitchellville, 
Delaware, and Centennial schools and to help build Clay Elementary in 
Altoona. The additional classrooms and new schools are needed to 
address rapid growth of students in the district. 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 four fire safety grants totaling $377,951 to make safety 
improvements 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 Southeast Polk Community School District. In particular, I would 
like to recognize the leadership of the board of education president 
Brad Skinner, vice president Steve Hanson, Katie Temple, Andrew 
McGrean, Tom Hadden, Joanne Moeller, and Lori Slings, and former board 
members Pat Staggs VanderWert, Doug Workman, Gwen Seward Lewis, Jack 
Scrignoli, Richard Owens, Valarie Campbell, Doug Keast, and Marion 
Vande Wall. I would also like to recognize superintendent Thomas Downs, 
former superintendent Dr. Joseph Drips, associate superintendent Dr. 
Stephen Miller, business manager Mike Hamilton, director of support 
services Dan Janssen and the cochairpersons Tom Hadden and Melissa 
Horton and volunteers for the ``It's For the Kids'' campaign which 
worked to pass the bond referendum.
  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

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Southeast Polk 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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