[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        DOWS COMMUNITY EDUCATION

 Mr. HARKIN. Madam 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 
Dows 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, 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 Dows Community School District received a 2002 Harkin grant 
totaling $77,787 to help replace boilers and ceiling tiles at the 
elementary and middle schools. The district also received two fire 
safety grants totaling $51,291 for emergency lighting, heat detectors, 
and other repairs at the schools. 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 Dows Community School District. In particular, I would like to 
recognize the leadership of the board of education--Marty Osterman, 
Kristi Hinkle, Jon Bakker, Betty Ellis, and Corey Jacobson, and former 
board members Shelly Howard and Steve Tassinari. I would also like to 
recognize superintendent Dr. Robert Olson, former superintendent Lyle 
Schwartz, board secretary Carol Hanson, and elementary school principal 
Sara Pralle.
  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 Dows 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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