[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23843]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     MUSCATINE 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 Muscatine 
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 Muscatine Community School District received Harkin grants 
totaling $2,600,250 which it used to help modernize and make safety 
improvements to schools throughout the district. The district received 
three construction grants totaling $2,010,250 to help build additions 
at Mulberry Elementary School, McKinley Elementary School, and 
Muscatine High School and to renovate the middle school. The district 
received three fire safety grants totaling $590,000 to make safety 
improvements in several schools in the district. 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.
  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 Muscatine Community School District. In particular, I would like to 
recognize the leadership of past and present members of the board of 
education, Tom Welk, Kris Weis, Bob Torgerson, Nancy Byrnes, Paul Reeb, 
Ann Hart, Robert Leech, Paul Brooks, Clyde Evans, Robin Krueger, Jerry 
Lange, Joyce Haller, and Tammi Drawbaugh. I would also like to 
recognize superintendent Dr. Tom Williams.
  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 Muscatine 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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