[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    FORT MADISON 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 Fort Madison 
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 Fort Madison Community School District received several Harkin 
grants totaling $1,994,880. The district received two construction 
grants totaling $1,444,880 to help with several projects including an 
addition and renovations to Fort Madison High School to improve 
English, history and science classrooms, an addition to Richardson 
Elementary School and improvements at Lincoln Elementary School. These 
schools are the modern, state-of-the-art facilities that befit the 
educational ambitions and excellence of this school district. Indeed, 
they are the kind of schools that every child in America deserves. The 
district also received five fire safety grants totaling $550,000 to 
make improvements in several schools.
  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 Fort Madison Community School District. In particular, I would like 
to recognize the leadership of the board of education--Peggy Booten, 
George Wheeler, Judy Gerdes, Duane Sherwood, Don Ward, Denise Gray and 
Rob Hogan and former board members Dan Davis, Carolyn Smith, John 
Noller, Martha Wolf, Gary Steflik, Betty Decker, Kitty Garner, Chris 
Logan, Gary McVey, Linda Fischer, Lori Meierotto and Steve Martin. I 
would also like to recognize superintendent Dr. Kenneth Marang, former 
superintendent Linda Brock, former high school principal Bernie 
Stephenson, Richardson principal Vicky Stephenson, former Lincoln 
principal Bob Carr and director of facilities and maintenance Kevin 
Moon.
  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 Fort Madison 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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