[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO HERBERT R. FISCHER

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to ask my colleagues 
to join me in recognizing Herb Fischer as he retires from a long and 
distinguished career in education. His service and commitment to 
California's schoolchildren, and to his community, have provided an 
example for us all.
  Dr. Fischer received his undergraduate degree in business 
administration from California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo. He later 
earned his teaching credential, master's degree, and doctorate from the 
University of California, Riverside. Dr. Fischer served his 38-year 
career in education in San Bernardino County, beginning as a classroom 
teacher. He later served as a principal and district administrator in 
the San Bernardino City Unified School District, where he remained for 
22 years. One of his chief accomplishments was his administrative 
support for San Bernardino City Unified's Desegregation and Integration 
Magnet School Program. This has been a model in providing quality 
programs for all students and offers parents and students more 
educational choices. Dr. Fischer also served as superintendent of the 
Colton Joint Unified School District for 7 years. There he directed a 
staff of over 2,500 employees. In 1998 Dr. Fischer was elected to serve 
as County Superintendent, where he oversees the programs and operations 
of the County Superintendent of Schools Office, which has an annual 
operating budget of $250 million.
  Under Dr. Fischer's leadership, the County Superintendent of Schools 
Office has prioritized services to support school districts' efforts to 
improve student performance and accountability. This has included 
closing achievement and access gaps for underperforming schools and 
underrepresented students, improving postsecondary education and career 
readiness, and ensuring safe school campuses.
  Among other accomplishments during Dr. Fischer's tenure, the County 
Superintendent of Schools Office lead a county-wide emphasis to improve 
student performance collectively with district superintendents, 
resulting in increased scores on the State Academic Performance Index 
for 7 consecutive years. He also was responsible for the construction 
of the county's first permanent school site, the Dorothy Gibson County 
High School in Ontario, and six additional schools to improve housing 
for the 6,000-plus special and alternate education students served by 
the county. Dr. Fischer also established three regional councils to 
provide seamless education, and close access and achievement gaps for 
students, and launched the Alliance for Education initiative that has 
over 1,500 business, labor, community, and faith-based partners working 
with public schools to improve the college, career, and labor readiness 
of students.
  For his outstanding leadership and contributions to education and the 
community, Dr. Fischer has been recognized by many organizations. He 
was awarded the University of California, Riverside Alumni 
Association's prestigious Alumni Public Service Award for his service 
to the public sector. He has been recognized by the Rialto/Fontana 
Chapter of the NAACP, the Victor Valley African American, and Inland 
Empire Hispanic Chambers of Commerce for building collaborative 
relationships to benefit the education of all students throughout San 
Bernardino County. Most recently, the Mount Baldy Chapter of the 
Building Industry Association recognized Dr. Fischer for his leadership 
in developing partnerships with business leaders.
  Throughout his long career in education and public service, Dr. 
Herbert R. Fischer has consistently provided for stronger communities 
and higher educational attainment, and he has provided a model of 
exemplary service to us all. I am pleased to ask my colleagues to join 
me in congratulating him on his retirement.

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