[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17362-17363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DR. DENNIS E. MURRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the work of Dr. 
Dennis E. Murray and the positive impact he's had on education as 
Superintendent of the Altoona Area School District in Altoona, 
Pennsylvania for the last 25 years.
  At a time in our country when many public school systems have been 
under attack for not making the grade, Altoona has experienced steady 
growth and achieved tremendous accomplishments under Dr. Murray's 
effective leadership.
  Recently, U.S News and World Report named Altoona Area High School as 
one of America's best high schools.
  Dr. Murray is an innovator who has challenged his district to be on 
the cutting edge of technology and educational programs. He is also a 
pragmatist who's helped modernize its buildings and facilities 
efficiently for the district's taxpayers.
  Most important, Dr. Murray has never forgotten his roots in education 
that began 47 years ago as a classroom teacher. His emphasis on hiring 
excellent teachers and providing students with the necessary tools for 
a solid education means that Altoona's graduates are among the best 
prepared for the future in our great Nation.
  Dr. Murray will be honored on October 6, 2010 by the Altoona Kiwanis 
Club as its Distinguished Citizen of the Year. I congratulate him on 
this recognition and I ask to place his long list of accomplishments 
into the Congressional Record. I would like to thank him for his 
continued stellar service to the local Altoona area community.


          Dr. Murray's List of Accomplishments for the Record:

  Dr. Murray received a B.S. in education from Slippery Rock University 
in 1963 and an M. Ed. in educational administration from Duquesne 
University in 1965. He earned his Doctor of Education degree in 
elementary education and educational psychology from Penn State in 
1973.
  He has been honored with many prestigious awards including the 
Educational Leadership Award from Phi Delta Kappa; the Distinguished 
Educator Award from the Tri-State Study Council of the University of 
Pittsburgh; the Excellence in Education Award from the Penn State 
University College of Education; the Exemplary and Innovative 
Educational Leadership and Management Award from the Pennsylvania 
Department of Education; the Excellence in Administration Award from 
the Pennsylvania School Study Council; the Blair Bedford Central Labor 
Council AFL-CIO Person of the Year Award; and an honorary doctorate 
from St. Francis University in 2008.
  In addition to his service to the Altoona Area School District, Dr. 
Murray is a member of the Board of Trustees at Slippery Rock 
University. He has served on numerous community boards and committees 
and teaches graduate level courses for St. Francis University and Penn 
State.
  Management of the budget for the past 25 years with only four minimal 
tax increases over that time period. The 2010-2011 AASD budget is $89.3 
million.
  Completion of numerous capital projects including new school 
construction/renovation at Baker, Ebner, Juniata Gap, Penn-Lincoln, 
Irving, Pleasant Valley and Logan elementary schools as well as the 
$48.5 million Altoona Area Junior High School which opened in 2008.
  Creation of the Bertram Leopold Recreation Center (five tennis 
courts, two volleyball courts and two basketball courts) on the campus 
of Altoona Area High School in 1988.
  Successful negotiation of numerous contracts with teachers in the 
Pennsylvania State Education Association, non-instructional employees 
in the AFSCME Union, and teacher assistants who belong to the 
Educational Support Personnel organization. These agreements included 
health/hospitalization agreements.
  Negotiation of payments to the school district in lieu of taxes from 
area hospitals.
  Outsourced management of the school district's food service program 
as well as student bus and van transportation.
  Improved computerization of the school district Tax Office.
  Established countless school/community partnerships which have 
stimulated economic development in Blair County.
  Implemented a school-based management/total quality education program 
known as Q-SITE (Quality Schools Involving Teams for Excellence). As 
part of this initiative, the school received ISO-9001 certification in 
January, 2002.
  Creation of the Altoona Area School District Foundation--a non-profit 
organization that has attracted $2.9 million in private contributions 
since 1989. More than $725,000 has been allocated for a very successful 
Teacher Grants program.
  A $507,000 donor-designated gift to the AASD Foundation by the Sheetz 
family led to the creation of the new Sheetz Athletic Training Center 
at Mansion Park. Last year, Bob Sill, an AHS graduate, donated $125,000 
for

[[Page 17363]]

team rooms and coaches' offices at Mansion Park.
  Creation of the national 4,200-member Altoona Area High School Alumni 
Association.
  Establishment of partnerships with colleges and universities that 
have helped to make Altoona a teaching/research-based school district.
  Creation of the Center for Advanced Technologies in 1994, believed to 
be the first of its kind in a public school district in the United 
States thanks to a partnership with the Cornell University Synthesis 
Coalition.
  Creation of the Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation, a 
cyber charter school begun during the 2002-2003 school year in 
cooperation with 32 Central Pennsylvania school districts.
  Creation of an After-School Arts Program and an Elementary Stage 
Band.
  Establishment of a rigorous secondary curriculum which features 18 
Advanced Placement courses. The College Board has recognized this AP 
program.
  Creation of a digital multi-media lab at AAHS to enhance foreign 
language instruction. A digital Mt. Lion Television studio enables 
students to learn broadcasting skills. Another new digital lab is used 
to teach multi-media skills and music theory and harmony.
  Installation of an artificial surface and an all-weather track at 
Mansion Park Stadium and an artificial turf on the Altoona Area High 
School intramural field. In 2008, a new Trophy Turf surface was 
installed at Mansion Park. Construction of a third turf field, 
Roosevelt Field, at the site of the former Roosevelt Junior High 
School, also has a Trophy Turf playing surface.
  Offering elementary students a school of choice at the McAuliffe 
Heights Program at Irving School, which was named a National Blue 
Ribbon School in 2007 as well as an Apple Computer Distinguished School 
in 2010.
  U.S. News and World Report named Altoona Area High School as one of 
America's best high schools in 2010.
  Becoming the first Pennsylvania school district to put strobe lights 
on school buses.
  Establishment of the William P. Kimmel Alternative School for at-risk 
secondary students.
  Creation of a partnership with Atlantic Broadband which has enabled 
the school district to deliver public access/educational access 
television to Blair County residents.
  Helped create the Central Blair Recreation Commission of which the 
school district is a member.
  Establishment of a School Police Department will full police powers. 
This department oversees an extensive network of security cameras 
throughout the school district. Security greeters are also assigned at 
all three secondary schools.
  Established a technology coordinator position along with a Technology 
Department.
  Instituted drug testing for all new AASD employees and for secondary 
interscholastic athletes.
  Created an employee wellness center.
  Helped AASD become one of Pennsylvania's first school districts to 
implement full-day kindergartens at all schools. This year, Altoona has 
31 full-day kindergartens.

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