[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WEST DELAWARE COUNTY 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 Delaware 
County 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 Delaware County Community School District received several 
Harkin fire safety grants totaling $270,199 which it used to upgrade 
the fire alarm system and improve emergency lighting and other items at 
the high school and middle school as well as add fire rated doors and 
smoke and heat detectors at Lambert 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 superintendent Bob Cue and the entire staff, 
administration, and governance in the West Delaware County Community 
School District. In particular, I would like to recognize the 
leadership of the board of education--president Elwyn Curtis, Mike 
Ryan, Steve Dudak, Cheryl Stufflebeam and Linda Bessey, as well as past 
members former president Dan Zumbach, Mike Carr, Ilona Durey, Gary 
Johnson, Jack Young, and Edith Fortmann-Comley.
  Other dedicated district staff who were instrumental in the success 
of the grant implementation whom I would also like to recognize are the 
late superintendent Rick Hilbert, business manager Ron Goerdt, building 
and grounds director Ron Swartz, and technology coordinator Ron 
Struble.
  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 Delaware County 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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