11
Mar
2003
The Quad Cities experienced a devastating loss last week when prominent attorney and civic leader Bob Waterman unexpectedly passed away. Bob and his wife Kitty were neighbors for most of my life, and a good portion of my grandmother's. There were few men she liked or respected more than Bob. He was always kind and caring of her, giving her a sense of comfort that comes from neighbors who are also good friends.
Over the years, I came to understand that Bob Waterman was a very special man. He possessed enormous grace. It is what set him apart. He willingly and generously engaged with others. He had tenderness toward people so rarely seen, especially in someone of such stature and accomplishment. I have often thought that true intellect, as well as humor, breeds compassion and empathy. Bob bore my theory out.
For me, Bob Waterman will always represent what a gentleman should be: supreme confidence without arrogance, dignity without pretension, polish and sophistication without guile, and huge success without conceit. His loving devotion to Kitty reflected in his eyes when chatting about his family. I sensed that he was deeply aware that something much bigger than himself was responsible for the blessing of his tremendous family.
Every encounter with Bob Waterman, regardless how brief, was a complete delight because he always managed to connect with warmth and genuine interest. Small talk was somehow better, more satisfying. He enthusiastically encouraged me. While I so admired and respected Bob, I valued him because I trusted him. The Quad Cities is lucky to claim him as one of our most esteemed community leaders. His numerous contributions helped shape our future. But even more remarkable, through his example, is the impact Bob had on many of us that inspired precious values such as honor, diplomacy, and compassion.
Davenport School District Up To Old Tricks
Here we go again. On the heels of closing two elementary schools, the Davenport Community School District (DCSD) is proposing an 18-room building to house its Pre-Kindergarten program at the cost of a whopping $3 million. The idea is to centralize the early learning programs of a defined target zone comprised of certain individual neighborhood schools into one facility. The building would locate next to Wood and draw children from the surrounding elementary districts, such as Wilson (approximately 10 miles away), Adams, etc. By osmosis, this redistribution of Pre-K students would alleviate some of the overcrowding caused by the closings of Grant and Johnson elementary schools last year. In addition, the DCSD is spending $600,000 to add three rooms to Hoover Elementary for its early learning program.
Meanwhile, the shortsighted district has sold Grant for $175,000, and is poised to sell Johnson for $165,000, ignoring the fact that combined these two buildings have more than thirty rooms to accommodate new programming, and that had they remained open, many of the problems of overcrowding would not exist. The DCSD created the overcrowding with its foolish decision to close two vital schools.
It is unconscionable that in a period of supposed budget constraints, the DCSD is on a spending spree that could have been avoided altogether had it done the responsible and financially prudent thing by keeping the two schools open. How is it that the DCSD could not muster $190,000 to operate Grant and Johnson, but it can manage $3 million for a brand new building? This action simply cannot be justified by the DCSD, and the Davenport School Board (DSB) must demonstrate leadership by standing up for taxpayers this time and voting the expenditure down. Instead, the DSB should insist on retaining the Johnson School property, redistribute students appropriately, and use existing buildings for its Pre-K initiative. Approving a new $3million building is nothing less than pillaging.
Over the years, I came to understand that Bob Waterman was a very special man. He possessed enormous grace. It is what set him apart. He willingly and generously engaged with others. He had tenderness toward people so rarely seen, especially in someone of such stature and accomplishment. I have often thought that true intellect, as well as humor, breeds compassion and empathy. Bob bore my theory out.
For me, Bob Waterman will always represent what a gentleman should be: supreme confidence without arrogance, dignity without pretension, polish and sophistication without guile, and huge success without conceit. His loving devotion to Kitty reflected in his eyes when chatting about his family. I sensed that he was deeply aware that something much bigger than himself was responsible for the blessing of his tremendous family.
Every encounter with Bob Waterman, regardless how brief, was a complete delight because he always managed to connect with warmth and genuine interest. Small talk was somehow better, more satisfying. He enthusiastically encouraged me. While I so admired and respected Bob, I valued him because I trusted him. The Quad Cities is lucky to claim him as one of our most esteemed community leaders. His numerous contributions helped shape our future. But even more remarkable, through his example, is the impact Bob had on many of us that inspired precious values such as honor, diplomacy, and compassion.
Davenport School District Up To Old Tricks
Here we go again. On the heels of closing two elementary schools, the Davenport Community School District (DCSD) is proposing an 18-room building to house its Pre-Kindergarten program at the cost of a whopping $3 million. The idea is to centralize the early learning programs of a defined target zone comprised of certain individual neighborhood schools into one facility. The building would locate next to Wood and draw children from the surrounding elementary districts, such as Wilson (approximately 10 miles away), Adams, etc. By osmosis, this redistribution of Pre-K students would alleviate some of the overcrowding caused by the closings of Grant and Johnson elementary schools last year. In addition, the DCSD is spending $600,000 to add three rooms to Hoover Elementary for its early learning program.
Meanwhile, the shortsighted district has sold Grant for $175,000, and is poised to sell Johnson for $165,000, ignoring the fact that combined these two buildings have more than thirty rooms to accommodate new programming, and that had they remained open, many of the problems of overcrowding would not exist. The DCSD created the overcrowding with its foolish decision to close two vital schools.
It is unconscionable that in a period of supposed budget constraints, the DCSD is on a spending spree that could have been avoided altogether had it done the responsible and financially prudent thing by keeping the two schools open. How is it that the DCSD could not muster $190,000 to operate Grant and Johnson, but it can manage $3 million for a brand new building? This action simply cannot be justified by the DCSD, and the Davenport School Board (DSB) must demonstrate leadership by standing up for taxpayers this time and voting the expenditure down. Instead, the DSB should insist on retaining the Johnson School property, redistribute students appropriately, and use existing buildings for its Pre-K initiative. Approving a new $3million building is nothing less than pillaging.
