[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19307]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  THE RYDER ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 3, 1999

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, Thursday, August 19, will mark the 
opening of the Ryder Elementary Charter School in my district in Miami, 
Florida where Ryder System, Inc. will ensure quality education for 
children of their valued and respected employees. The Ryder Elementary 
Charter School will be the nation's first ``charter school-in-the-
workplace.''
  Children of Ryder employees will be educated at no cost with a unique 
curriculum designed specifically to ensure success for its students. 
Providing child care in the mornings before school and in the early 
evening while parents are still at work, the Ryder Elementary Charter 
School will enable parents to continue working in order to better 
provide for their children, all the while knowing that they are safe 
and among friends who care. By providing these invaluable services to 
employees and families of the South Florida community, Ryder has set a 
grand precedent that I hope other American companies and businesses 
will follow.
  This year, the Ryder Elementary Charter School will educate 300 
kindergarten through third graders, and will expand to 500 students in 
kindergarten through fifth grade within the next two years. By 
initiating this remarkable first of a kind charter school, Ryder has 
demonstrated a clear commitment to work hard to care for their 
employees and for their families.
  In light of their unselfish dedication to the future of America, I 
ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating, and thanking Ryder for 
their fine work.

                          ____________________