S10476 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 2, 2008 

LAURENS-MARATHON 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 Laurens-Marathon 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 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 Laurens-Marathon Community 

School District received several Harkin 

fire safety grants totaling $100,000 

which it used to make extensive upgrades in their school facilities, including new emergency lighting, doors and 

hardware. 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 Laurens-Marathon Community 

School District. In particular, I would 

like to recognize the leadership of the 

board of education, president Nancy 

Fuchs, vice president Deb Kenobbie, 

Dr. Brett Fehr, Terry Gunnarson and 

Bridget Bailey, and former members, 

Brett Barglof, Thaine Hopkins, Tom 

Schmidt, Karen Lind, Kelly Snyder, 

and Ken DeYoung. I would also like to 

recognize superintendent Iner Joelson, 

former superintendents Dan 

Braunschweig and Michael Wright, 

business manager Sue Wenell, and head 

custodian Jim Hodgell. 

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 

Laurens-Marathon 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.

f 

∑ 

LOUISA-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 LouisaMuscatine 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 Louisa-Muscatine Community 

School District received Harkin grants 

totaling $586,453. The district received 

a 2000 Harkin grant totaling $500,000 

which it used to help build an addition 

to the junior/senior high school which 

included upgrading the heating and airconditioning system to an energy efficient geothermal system. In 2001 and 

2002, fire safety grants were awarded to 

the district to make improvements to 

the electrical wiring, install heat and 

smoke detection units, and update 

emergency lighting to assure the security of students, teachers, and staff. 

This school is the modern, state-of-theart facility that befits the educational 

ambitions and excellence of this school 

district. Indeed, it is the kind of school 

facility 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 Louisa-Muscatine Community 

School District. In particular, I would 

like to recognize the leadership of past 

and present members of the board of 

education, Mark H. Carroll, Charles K. 

Clark, Dwayne Paul, Sue Hills, Randy 

Schultz, J. Riley Padgett, David Bieri, 

Angie Kemp, and Eric Schultz . I would 

also like to recognize superintendent 

Scott Grimes, former superintendent 

Mike Kortemeyer, and principal Roger 

Roskens. 

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 

Louisa-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.

f 

∑ 

MOUNT PLEASANT 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 Mount Pleasant 

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 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— 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE
October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10477 

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 Mount Pleasant Community 

School District received a Harkin fire 

safety grant totaling $150,000 which it 

used to install fire and smoke detectors 

in the middle school, Salem Elementary and WisdomQuest facilities. The 

Federal grant has 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 Mount Pleasant Community 

School District. In particular, I would 

like to recognize the leadership of the 

board of education, president Regina 

Erickson, vice president Lois Roth, 

Brad Holtkamp, Chris Prellwitz, John 

Scheetz, Ken Feldmann, and Melodee 

Yaley, and former members, David 

McCoid, Arlo Sandersfeld, Sharleen 

Bertling, Steve Wettach, and Lois 

Crane. I would also like to recognize 

superintendent John Roederer and director of buildings and grounds Mark 

Porth. 

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 

Mount Pleasant 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.

f 

∑ 

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.

f 

∑ 

NORWALK 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 Norwalk 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 Norwalk Community School District received several Harkin grants totaling $2,420,788 which it used to help 

modernize and make safety improvements throughout the district. The district received three construction grant 

totaling $2 million. The first grant 

helped build additions to Oviatt Elementary to provide a new media center, a technology lab and two kindergarten classrooms to ensure adequate 

space for all-day kindergarten. The 

second two grants helped build Eastview School to serve 8th and 9th grade 

students and construct corridor links 

to the middle school with the high 

school. The connecting corridors provide a pathway for the sharing of educational services between the three 

school buildings. In all of these building initiatives, the grants were key 

catalysts to transition the projects 

from a vision to reality. The school 

board and administration could easily 


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