[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20109-20110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  SOUTHEAST WARREN 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 Warren 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

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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 Warren Community School District received a 2002 Harkin 
grant totaling $39,360 which it used to help renovate a classroom and 
replace windows and siding for the gymnasium in Lacona. The district 
also received a fire safety grant totaling $50,000 for electrical 
upgrades, door closures and emergency and exit lighting at the junior/
senior high school in Liberty Center. 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 Southeast Warren Community School District. In particular, I would 
like to recognize the leadership of the board of education--Ron Miller, 
Jennifer Mihalovich, Paul Mead, Larrie Williams and Marianne Lester and 
former board members John Burrell, Gerald Judkins, Thomas Farley, Greg 
Davis, Debbie Miller and Kevin Smith. I would also like to recognize 
former superintendent Susan Garton, custodian Silas Andersen and 
business manager Julie Wilson.
  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 ultra-modern 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 Southeast Warren 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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