October 1, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10313 

facility that every child in America deserves. The district also received three 

fire safety grants totaling $75,000 to install new hoods in the kitchens at the 

elementary and high schools, to install 

fire alarms and door closures and make 

other repairs. 

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 Greene Community School District. In particular, I would like to recognize the leadership of the board of 

education—Gary Hatcher, Laura 

Schafer, Troy Feldman, Barbara 

Brinkman and John Moellers and 

former board members Sara Trepp, 

Stanley Cousins, Robb Holtz, Jeff 

Lindell and Warren Van Dyke. I would 

also like to recognize superintendent 

Steve Ward and John Backer for his 

leadership of the citizens’ committee 

which supported the bond referendum 

for the project. 

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 

Greene 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 

∑ 

KEOKUK 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 Keokuk 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 Keokuk Community School District received a 1999 Harkin grant totaling $750,000 which it used to help 

renovate Hawthorne Elementary 

School and build a library addition for 

the Middle School. And in 2002, the district began construction of an alternative school with a $481,250 Harkin 

grant, as well as funds from a bond referendum and proceeds from a local option sales tax. This facility opened in 

2005 and provides an unique learning 

environment for 75–100 students each 

day. In addition, nearly $455,000 in Harkin Fire Safety Grants have been 

awarded to the Keokuk Community 

School District between 1999 and 2004 

for the new alarm systems, new windows, and fire doors to assure the safety of students, teachers and staff. 

These schools are 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 Keokuk Community School District. In particular, I would like to recognize the leadership of the board of 

education. 

As we mark the tenth 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 

Keokuk 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 

∑ 

MARTENSDALE-ST. MARYS 

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 Martensdale-St. 

Marys 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 Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District received a 2003 

Harkin grant totaling $500,000 which it 

used to help build a classroom addition 

and perform renovations in the existing school. The district also received a 

$25,000 fire safety grant to upgrade 

lighting and wiring in the area of the 

stage. 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 Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District. In particular, I 

would like to recognize the leadership 

of the board of education—Velvet Van 

Hoose, Scott Anderson, Cathy Seymour, Nicole Bunch, and John Della 

Vedova, and former board members 

Merle Allen, Larry Henson, Pat Connor, Dean Gavin, and Holly Estell. I 

would also like to recognize superintendent Jean Peterson, former superintendent Peggy Huisman, business 

manager Jane Cassady, and maintenance director Jim Lynch. 

As we mark the 10th anniversary of 

the Harkin school grant program in 

Iowa, I am obliged to point out that 


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S10314 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 1, 2008 

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 

Martensdale-St. Marys 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 

NEW LONDON 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 New London 

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. The Federal grant has made it 

possible for the district to provide 

quality and safe schools for their students. 

The New London Community School 

District received several Harkin fire 

safety grants totaling $100,000 which it 

used to make extensive upgrades to 

school facilities. The grants enabled 

the district to upgrade electrical wiring, install emergency lighting and 

make other safety repairs. 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 New London Community School 

District. In particular, I would like to 

recognize the leadership of the board of 

education—president Laurie Hempen, 

vice president Bob McPheron, Dennis 

Carter, Kelly Kadel, and Joel 

Prottsman, and former members, Virginia Ekstrand, Sid Schmitt, Rhonda 

Mixon, David Gates, and Gary Schweitzer. I would also like to recognize superintendent Chuck Reighard, former 

superintendent Robert Cardoni, and 

former board secretary Nancy Blow. 

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 

New London 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 

∑ 

OSKALOOSA 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 Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa Community School 

District received a 2000 Harkin grant 

totaling $500,000 which it used to help 

build an addition to and remodel classrooms in the high school building. The 

addition doubled the amount of classroom space available to students and 

greatly improved their learning environment. This school is a modern, 

state-of-the-art 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. The district also 

received a 1999 fire safety grant, totaling $62,000, which was used to purchase 

smoke detectors and emergency lighting in several buildings. 

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 Oskaloosa Community School 

District. In particular, I would like to 

recognize the leadership of the board of 

education—president David Meinert, 

vice-president Don Patterson, Laurie 

Palmer, John Grahek, Anne Whitis, 

Lin Yoder, and Jon Denniston, and 

former members Patrick Sodak, Bruce 

Smith, David Dickinson, and Brian 

Keefer. I would also like to recognize 

Superintendent Dr. Carolyn 

McGaughey, retired principal Mike 

Christensen, and board secretary Chad 

Vink. 

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 

Oskaloosa 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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