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.∑ 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with SENATE