[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S10479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WEST DES MOINES 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 West Des 
Moines 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 West Des Moines Community School District received two Harkin 
fire safety grants totaling $332,011 which it used to make fire safety 
repairs at the Walnut Creek Campus and at Fairmeadows Elementary 
School. 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 the entire staff, administration, and governance in 
the West Des Moines Community School District. In particular, I would 
like to recognize the leadership of the board of education--president 
Mark Lyons, vice president Terry Tobin, Barbara Burnett, Jill Hansen, 
Susan Moritz, Tom Suckow, and H. Milton Cole, and former board members 
Jim Aipperspach, Jane Fogg, Curt Lack, Pete Leo, John Paule, Jeanne 
Taylor, John Ambroson, Gretchen Tegeler, and Deb Thomas. I would also 
like to recognize superintendent Tom Narak, former superintendent Les 
Omotani, former associate superintendent Galen Howsare.
  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 West Des Moines 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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