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PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR "THE CITIES" IS PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE DORIS AND VICTOR DAY FOUNDATION.
>>RAISING TAXES TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLS, ROCK ISLAND COUNTY VOTERS WILL SOON DECIDE
IF IT IS WORTH IT. AND WE NEED YOU TO SOLVE A CRIME IN THE MIDDLE
OF A MUSEUM HERE IN "THE CITIES." >>>THE CSI SERIES IS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR
ON TELEVISION, BUT NOW YOU CAN BE PUT TO THE TEST AND BECOME A CRIME SOLVER.
MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT. BUT, FIRST, THE ONE PENNY QUESTION.
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE LOOKED LONGINGLY ACROSS THE RIVER AND ACROSS THE BORDER AS
VOTERS IN OTHER AREAS HAVE APPROVED ONE PERCENT SALES TAX PROPOSALS THAT HAVE FUNDED HUGE
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. RIGHT NOW ROCK ISLAND COUNTY VOTERS ARE BEING
ASKED IF THEY ARE WILLING TO DO THE SAME. A BIG PUSH IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW AS WE HEAD
CLOSER TO THE MARCH18 ILLINOIS PRIMARY. JOINING US IS SARAH BOHNSACK, THE CO CHAIR
OF THE "YES MAKES SENSE FOR STUDENTS" COMMITTEE THAT IS PUSHING FOR PASSAGE OF THIS.
AND ROCK ISLAND MILAN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DR.MIKE OBERHAUS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>THANK YOU.
>>SARAH, LET ME START WITH YOU, YOU SEE THIS AS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE FUTURE OF
ROCK ISLAND SCHOOLS. >>THAT'S CORRECT.
I REALLY THINK IT REPRESENTS THE FIRST TIME WE CAN SHIFT THE FUNDING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
AWAY FROM THAT OF THE PROPERTY TAX, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I LOOK AT IT AS A PARENT IN THAT
WE CAN PROVIDE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY AND FACILITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
>>AS YOU HEARD IN THE INTRODUCTION THAT I MADE IS THAT IT HAS BEEN APPROVED, MERCER
AND HENRY COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS. YOU SEE IT IN SCOTT COUNTY AND THE COUNTIES IN IOWA AS
WELL. IT HAS GOT TO BE TOUGH TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE
ABLE DO WITH WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE APPROVED IN THOSE COUNTIES.
>>YES, I HAVE BEEN AN AUDITOR ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON THE IOWA SIDE FOR MANY YEARS,
AND IT IS AMAZING WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO WITH THE ONE CENT SALES TAX THAT THEY RECEIVE
WITHIN IOWA. >>SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT
TIME TO REAPPROACH VOTERS? IT DID NOT SUCCEED IN 2009.
WE ARE NOW, WHAT, FIVE YEARS LATER. WHY IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME?
>> I THINK WE ARE CONTINUING TO BE FACED WITH AGING FACILITIES.
MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AS FAR AS SECURITY ISSUES, UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT WE HAVE SEEN. AND I THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE BRING THAT
TO ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. >>DR.OBERHAUS, LET'S TALK ABOUT ROCK ISLAND
MILAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR. HOW WOULD A ONE PENNY SALES TAX INCREASE HELP
YOUR DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR? >> WELL, WE HAVE JUST FINISHED A LONG RANGE
FACILITIES STUDY WITH THE CITIZENS' TASK FORCE, AND THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT WE ARE GROSSLY
UNDERFUNDING THE REPAIRS AND THE ONGOING NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS.
WE SPEND BETWEEN 3 AND $600,000 A YEAR RIGHT NOW MAINTAINING 1.2MILLIONSQUARE FEET
OF SPACE AT AVERAGE AGE OF 58 YEARS? THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WE SPEND MINIMALLY $1.9MILLION
A YEAR JUST TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITY STRUCTURES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
WE HAVE SECURITY NEEDS THAT MISSBOHNSACK TALKED ABOUT AS WELL IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS
THAT WE'D LIKE TO REALLY ENHANCE WITH THESE FUNDS AS WELL. WE HAVE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
ON THE BOOKS AS WELL THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER INCLUDING SOME NEW ENTRY WAYS AT
THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COUPLE OF OUR OTHER SCHOOLS. >>I DID NOTICE IT WOULD RAISE A LITTLE BIT
OF MONEY FOR ROCK ISLAND SCHOOLS. ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT WOULD BE AT THE
TOP OF THE LIST OF THINGS THAT NEED THE MOST ATTENTION?
BECAUSE YOU DO TALK ABOUT SECURITY. A LOT OF TIMES IT HAS BEEN TECH UPGRADES,
JUST GETTING ENOUGH ELECTRICITY OR ANY TIME OF INTER CONNECTIVITY IN THESE BUILDINGS ALONE.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE TOP PRIORITY? >> NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR US WOULD BE TO
PUT SECURE FRONT ENTRANCES ON FIVE OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THEM.
CURRENTLY PEOPLE CAN COME IN OUR BUILDING AND GET ANYWHERE IN THE SCHOOL WITHOUT AN
ADULT STOPPING THEM AND ASKING THEM TO SIGN IN.
SO WE WANT TO REMEDY THAT FIRST THING. WE HAVE LOCKING MECHANISMS ON OUR CLASSROOM
DOORS THAT REQUIRE OUR TEACHERS TO GO OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO LOCK THE DOORS.
WE WANT TO REPLACE ALL THE LOCKS. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL THING.
OUR DISTRICT ALONE IT IS $180,000. THOSE ARE THE FIRST THINGS AND PRIORITIES
THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED. THEN WE START TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INEQUITIES
WE HAVE WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES. SO
OUR JUNIOR HIGH, WE WOULD REMODEL SOME OF OUR CLASSROOMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SCIENCE
LABS AND CREATE THEM INTO REAL SCIENCE LABS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>>LET'S BE HONEST YOU ARE LOOKING TO MAKE 21ST SCHOOLS IN BUILDINGS THAT WEREN'T BUILT
IN THE 21ST CENTURY. >>CORRECT.
YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL IS VERY GERMANE.
IN THE OLD DAYS, THERE WAS ONE ELECTRICAL OUTLET TO RUN THE CLOCK IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EXPANDING ELECTRICAL PASS CAPACITY IN OUR SCHOOLS TO RUN ALL THE
TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TECHNOLOGY.
THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR MORE TECHNOLOGY, HIGHER BAND WIDTH DEMAND, AND HIGHER INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THAT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
IN THE PAST. >>SARAH, THIS AFFECTS EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, INCLUDING MOLINE WHICH HAS TALKED ABOUT AUDITORIUM IMPROVEMENTS,
POOL IMPROVEMENTS, BROWNING FIELD UPGRADES, AS WELL AS SOME AIR CONDITIONING IN THE HIGH
SCHOOL. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE FOR A SCHOOL SUCH AS UT, MOLINE, FOR ROCK ISLAND, THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF. >>CORRECT.
AND AS WELL AS ON THE OUTLYING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL.
IT IS HARD TO REMEMBER NOW WHEN WE ARE SITTING HERE WITH IT SNOWING ONCE AGAIN, BUT OUR CHILDREN
WERE OUT MANY DAYS IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.
AND MOST OF THOSE SCHOOL SYSTEMS DON'T HAVE COOLING AS WELL.
>>AND I WONDER, TOO, IS THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE METRO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT
THE RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS? IS FUNDING EVEN A MORE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
OR NOT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, OF COURSE BUT IS IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO RAISE THE
FUNDS FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS IN A RURAL DISTRICT RATHER THAN AN URBAN DISTRICT?
>> THEY HAVE THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT THE METRO DISTRICT DOES EXCEPT THEY ARE SURROUNDED
BY FARMLAND AS WELL WHICH MAKES THIS A GREAT MECHANISM FOR FUNDING THE FACILITIES WITHIN
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAX FARM IMPLEMENTS.
IT DOESN'T TAX FARM INPUT. IT IS THE SALES TAX ON RETAIL TYPE SALES.
>>AND DR.OBERHAUS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE REGRESSIVE
TO BE A SALES TAX, BUT THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT THE SCHOOLS TO BE TAKEN A LITTLE
BIT OFF THE PROPERTY TAX ROLLS JUST TO EASE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN THERE IS FOR PROPERTY
TAX OWNERS. IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE AS ONE OF THE BIG SELLING
POINTS RIGHT NOW, AND HAS THAT BEEN WORKING? >> I THINK THAT IS A BIG SELLING POINT.
THE PROPERTY TAXES IN ILLINOIS ARE VERY HIGH COMPARED TO THE IOWA COUNTERPARTS.
PART OF THIS WILL TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OF THE PROPERTY TAXES OFF THE SCHOOLS FOR
THE MOST PART HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES RIGHT OUT OF GATES IF THIS
PASSES, TAKING A NICKEL OFF THE FIRE PREVENTION LIFE SAFETY.
AS BONDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING BEING PAID FOR BY PROPERTY TAXES ARE PAID OFF, THAT
TAX RATE WILL GO DOWN. IN OUR SCHOOL THAT'S TEN PERCENT OF OUR TAX RATE WOULD EVENTUALLY
GO AWAY AS WE PAYOFF THE OUTSTANDING BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID FOR FROM REFERENDUMS IN
THE PAST. >>THAT'S NO INSIGNIFICANT CAN'T AMOUNT OF
MONEY. THAT TEN PERCENT WOULD GO WHERE?
WOULD IT BE CUTS IN SPENDING OR >>IT WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN OUR TAX RATE
TO OUR TAXPAYERS. >>SO IT WOULD BE TAX.
>>IT WOULD BE TAX RELIEF TO THEM. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO PAY THE BONDS OFF.
THERE IS A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. THE OTHER ADVANTAGE OF THE SALES TAX, WE HAVE
BEEN TOLD THAT 30% OF THE SALES IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY OCCUR FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN
THE COUNTY. SO IT IS A WAY TO GET OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR COUNTY TO HELP SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS
AND TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF OUR TAXPAYERS THAT WAY AS WELL.
>>SARAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GROUND SWELL YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE.
WHEN IT COMES TO REFERENDUM QUESTIONS, A LOT OF TIMES IT IS THE TURNOUT THAT CAN HELP DECIDE
WHETHER THIS PASSES OR FAILS. IT IS EARLY VOTING ONGOING RIGHT NOW, THROUGHOUT
ILLINOIS, ROCK ISLAND COUNTY INCLUDED UNTIL THREE DAYS BEFORE THE MARCH18 PRIMARY.
SO, UNTIL THE 15TH. >>RIGHT.
>>IS THAT WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE EARLY SO TO SPEAK?
>> WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE EARLY, TO GET OUT.
AND ALSO WE HAVE ENCOURAGED OUR CHILDREN TO GET INVOLVED.
SO OUR 17 YEAR OLDS, 18 YEAR OLDS TO GET REGISTERED. THIS IS A CAUSE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
THEM, AND WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO PARTICIPATE. AND, REALLY, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE OF ABOUT
50 PEOPLE AT THIS POINT AND TIME, AND WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE TALKING TO OUR FRIENDS, OUR
NEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILIES, AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR THE FUTURE
OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. >>IT IS SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THIS
WILL BE THE FIRST PRIMARY WHERE A 17 YEAR OLD CAN VOTE, AS LONG AS THAT 17 YEAR OLD
TURNS 18 BY THE TIME OF THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
DR.OBERHAUS, HOW HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEEN DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE?
BECAUSE, I MEAN YOU HAVE GOT A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE AND A NUMBER OF CIVIC CLASSES AND A NUMBER
OF HISTORY CLASSES AS WELL. WHAT A WAY TO TEACH GOVERNMENT TO KIDS WHO
CAN NOW ACTUALLY LIVE IT. >>IT IS AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR
THEM. AS WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, IT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS PUT INTO MOTION THAT WHICH ARE TALK IN THE CIVICS, AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT CLASSES TO TAKE ON THE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES. IT IS AMAZING THE KIDS ARE REALLY STEPPING
UP IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE.
AS SARAH TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE STARTED A TWITTER ACCOUNT, AND TWITTER
STREAM REGARDING THE REFERENDUM ON THEIR OWN ACCORD.
IT IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT THEY ARE ACTIVE IN FACEBOOK.
SO WE ARE REAL EXCITED ABOUT THEM TAKING PART IN THIS PROCESS TO GO ALONG.
WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE INFORMED ABOUT IT AND GO OUT AND VOTE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY TAKE ON THE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY OF VOTING AND
GOING OUT AND VOTE. >>WHY ARE YOU MORE OPTIMISTIC NOW IN 2014
THAN YOU MAY HAVE BEEN IN 2009? >> IN 2009, IT WAS KIND OF THE PERFECT STORM.
THE ECONOMY TANKED VERY DRAMATICALLY JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION.
THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE ECONOMY WILL BE IN OUR COUNTRY
AND AROUND THE WORLD, AND I THINK THAT UNSETTLED A LOT OF FOLKS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND
SAY, YES, WE ARE WILLING TO DO THIS. I THINK THE ECONOMY HAS STRAIGHTENED OUT SOMEWHAT.
EVERYONE SAYS IT IS 100PERCENT BACK BUT THERE IS A PROMISING FUTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE RAISE AND SPEND ON CONSTRUCTION IN OUR
COMMUNITY AS WELL, GENERATES EIGHT DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
AND THE TAXES ARE SUPPOSED TO RAISE 11 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE COUNTY.
IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY EIGHT, YOU GET ABOUT $90MILLION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ROCK
ISLAND COUNTY EVERY YEAR. WE THINK THAT IS A REAL POWERFUL INCENTIVE AS WELL.
FINALLY BE I KNOW WHENEVER THERE IS A VOTE OF ANY TYPE, THERE IS ALWAYS MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT PAINS YOU TO HEAR. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST
ONES THE FEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE THAT YOU SPEND THE MONEY, YOU HOPE THAT IT HELPS ROCK
ISLAND SCHOOLS, BUT THE MONEY GOES TO SPRINGFIELD, AND YOU NEVER SEE IT AGAIN.
>>RIGHT. >>YOU SAY THAT SHOULD NOT BE A CONCERN?
>> IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE GOVERNOR HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH
THOSE DOLLARS. THEY GO DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND THEN ARE BROUGHT BACK IMMEDIATELY
TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION. THE FUNDS ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED BASED ON THE
PER STUDENT COUNT IN ALL THE SCHOOLS WITHIN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
>>AND, SO, I ASK SARAH, IS WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?
I MEAN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE PROMOTING
YOUR STANCE ON THIS TAX? >> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
DOING. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE KNOCKING ON DOORS, MAKING
PHONE CALLS. WE ARE OUT THERE I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I HAND SOMEONE A BROCHURE, AND
THEY SAY, "I HAVE ALREADY HAVE ONE, THANKS." SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INFORMED,
INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WHAT
IT MEANS TO THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS. >>HAVE YOU SEEN SOME ISSUES IN PARTICULAR
THAT THE VOTERS ARE STILL WORRIED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE?
>> I THINK VOTERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT TAXES ANY TIME IT IS MENTIONED.
>>ABSOLUTELY. >>BUT THIS REALLY IS A SHIFT.
>>I GUESS, JIM, I JUST WOULD ADD TO THAT THAT ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE,
THIS CAN BE USED FOR SALARIES. IT IS REALLY ONLY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES
AND FOR PHYSICAL ATRAMENTS TO THE SCHOOL. IT CANNOT BE USED FOR BUYING A COMPUTER OR
PAYING FOR SALARIES OR TEXTBOOKS, IT IS TRULY FOR PHYSICAL PLANT ENHANCEMENTS.
>>SARAH, IF THIS GETS APPROVED ON MARCH18, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT JULY FIRST.
TAXATION WOULD START ON THAT DATE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE PERHAPS THE ESTIMATE WOULD BE $11MILLION
WOULD BE RAISED IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY PER YEAR.
>>11 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. >>SO, AS WE WERE SAYING, ROCK ISLAND WOULD
SEE 3MILLION. YOU SEE IT ALL DIVIED UP. WHAT OTHER IMPACTS ARE THERE?
I MEAN ABOUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AT ROCK ISLAND, AND TALKING
ABOUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT MOLINE. WHAT ABOUT OTHER DISTRICTS, ARE WE SEEING
MAJOR CHANGES THAT WOULD OCCUR? >> FIRST, THEY ARE FACED WITH THE SECURITY
ISSUES. THEY ARE FACED WITH THE HEATING A AND COOLING
ISSUES. AS WE TALK TO A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS,
A LOT OF THEM HAVE OLD HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS OUT THERE AND NO COOLING.
THOSE ARE THE PRIORITIES, AND THEN IT IS REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN
OVER THE LAST DECADE AND GETTING THAT FIXED AND JUST MAKING A MORE SECURE BETTER LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENTS. >>ONCE AGAIN, THERE ARE SATELLITE VOTING AREAS.
I THINK THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY RIGHT NOW THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPEN
UNTIL MARCH15. >>CORRECT.
>>FOR THE EARLY MORNING VOTING EARLY VOTING I SHOULD SAY, NOT EARLY MORNING VOTING.
AND, ONCE AGAIN, 17 YEAR OLD'S CAN REGISTER AND VOTE, AS LONG AS THEY TURN 18 BEFORE NOVEMBER.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT VOTERS TO REMEMBER?
>> I JUST WOULD LIKE THEM TO BECOME INFORMED. WE DO HAVE A FACEBOOK SITE, "YES MAKES SENSE
FOR STUDENTS," THAT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON IT AS WELL.
TALK TO YOUR DISTRICTS. THEY HAVE INFORMATION AS WELL.
AND BECOME INFORMED AND GET OUT ON MARCH18 AND VOTE.
>>ARE YOU WORRIED AT ALL, DOCTOR, ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU GET ANOTHER VOTE OF NO,
LIKE YOU SAW IN 2009? >> WE ARE HOPEFUL WE HAVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME
OBVIOUSLY. WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ALL OF OUR ATTENTION
TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT PASSED THIS TIME AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET ALL OF OUR PEOPLE
INFORMED OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, WHAT THE ONE CENT SALES TAX IS AND IS NOT, AND MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE VOTING FOR WHEN THEY WALK INTO THE VOTING BOOTH ON
MARCH18. >>DR.MIKE OBERHAUS FROM ROCK ISLAND MILAN
SCHOOL DISTRICT, SARAH BOHNSACK FROM THE YES COMMITTEE,
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>>THANK YOU. >>LEARNING ABOUT IMPORTANT AND EDUCATION ISSUES
FOR ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. SPEAKING OF SUCH, LAST WEEK, FOUR MOLINE HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS GOT AN IMPRESSIVE AWARD. THE ILLINOIS COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AWARDED GABRIEL PENCE, TRAVIS MEYER, ELAINE EDWARDS, AND JJ SCHRICK FIRST PLACE HONORS
FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, FOCUSING ON DATING ABUSE.
TAKE A LOOK. >>IT IS EVERY WHERE, NOT TRULY NOTICED, NEVER
REALLY CONFRONTED. >>BUT ALL THE SAME, IT IS REAL AND TEENS FEEL
AND STRUGGLE AND ARE HAUNTED. >>IT ONLY TAKES ONE TO HARM TO ABUSE ANOTHER.
THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PAIN IS THERE. >> SO MANY HURT AND SO LITTLE HELP.
DOES ANYONE KNOW? >>DOES ANYONE CARE?
>>IT CAN BE STOPPED AS EASILY AS IT STARTED. >>WITH JUST ONE VOICE, THE DIFFERENCE CAN
BE MADE. >>STAND UP AGAINST TEEN DATING ABUSE.
>> DO SO AND WE CAN MAKE THE PROBLEM FADE. >>> OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO GABRIEL, TRAVIS,
ELAINE, AND JJ FOR A JOB WELL DONE. A REMINDER, WITH.
WQPT HAS ITS ONGOING ANTI BULLYING RESOURCE PAGE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS ALIKE.
CHECK IT OUT ANY TIME AT WQPT.ORG. OUR MARCH TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP AND
WE ARE SPRINGING THE CLOCK FORWARD THIS WEEKEND. CAN SPRING ACTUALLY BE FAR BEHIND?
LET'S GET A TASTE OF SOME OF THE EVENTS THIS OUR AREA IF YOU PLAN TO GO OUT AND ABOUT.
HERE IS LORA ADAMS. >>HELLO.
I AM LORA ADAMS. AND THIS IS "OUT AND ABOUT" FOR MARCH3
9. THE TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS IS COMING TO THE
FIGGE ART MUSEUM ON FAT TUESDAY. JOIN AREA CHEFS AS THEY PREPARE CAJUN INSPIRED
APPETIZERS, ENTREES, AND DESERTS. DON'T MISSTHE SPRING ANTIQUES SPECTACULAR
AT THE QCCA EXPO CENTER PRESENTING MORE THAN 70 EXHIBITORS FOR ANTIQUE
SHOPPING GALORE. TRIVIA NIGHTS ARE ON TAP FOR BI STATE LITERACY
COUNCIL AT THE ROCK ON MARCH8. DOORS OPEN AT 6 P.M., AND RESERVATIONS ARE
REQUIRED. MORNING STAR ACADEMY HOLDS THEIR MARCH7
TRIVIA NIGHT AT BETTENDORF CHRISTIAN CHURCH WITH THE DOORS OPENING AT 5:30.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. PLUS, YOU CAN HELP OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS
AT "BOWL FOR A BUDDY" TO BENEFIT SHELTER PETS. SCHEDULED MARCH9 AT BLACKHAWK HOTEL BOWL
AND MARTINI LOUNGE, AND IT INCLUDES BOWLING, FOOD, BOWLING AND RAFFLE.
AS PART OUR EMBRACING MILITARY INITIATIVE, WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN MACOMB IS HOLDING
VETERANS BRIDGE TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO EMPOWER VETERANS WITH THE ABILITY TO TRANSLATE THEIR
SERVICE INTO MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT.
>>ON STAGE, "VIVA LA DIVAS," FEATURES AWARD WINNING PERFORMERS FROM ACROSS THE MIDWEST
PERFORMING AT THE CIRCA 21 SPEAK EASY. THE FIFTH INSTALLMENT OF THE QUAD CITY SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA'S MASTERWORKS SERIES TAKES PLACE AT THE ADLER THEATER.
WHILE IT IS A MYSTERY PRESENTS THE HILARIOUS PRIVATE COMEDY, *** AT SCUTTLEBUTT SOUND
AT SKELLINGTON MANNER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOG ON TO WQPT.ORG.
>> THANK YOU, LORA. IT IS HARD TO FIND SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT CSI MEANS. IT IS CRIME
SCENE INVESTIGATION MADE POPULAR BY THE CBS TELEVISION SERIES.
IT TURNED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE INTO AMATEUR INVESTIGATORS.
THESE DAYS, YOU ARE EVEN WARNED ABOUT USING YOUR CSI SKILLS IF YOU ARE ON A REAL LIFE
JURY. SO WHERE CAN YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TALENT
THESE DAYS? HOW ABOUT THE PUTNAM MUSEUM.
JOINING US IS PUTNAM MUSEUM PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KIM FINDLAY, AND
MUSEUMS VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF EDUCATION AND EXHIBITS,
NICOLE MYLES. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>>IT IS A PLEASURE. >>I THINK IT IS.
BUT THIS IS SO MUCH FUN. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CSI.
WHERE DID YOU GET THIS IDEA? IT IS A TRAVELING EXHIBIT, I ASSUME?
>> IT IS A TRAVELING EXHIBIT. COMING OFF THE DIANA EXHIBIT, HOW THE COMMUNITY
EMBRACED AND CAME TO THAT EXHIBIT, WE HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO DO CSI THIS SPRING.
IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO BE A GREAT COINCIDING EXHIBIT WITH THE NEW SCIENCE CENTER AND STEM
INITIAVE AT THE PUTNAM. >>WE DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT IN PARTICULAR, NICOLE.
PEOPLE LOVE HANDS ON EXHIBITS. YOU ARE DEFINITELY GIVING IT TO THEM WITH
THIS, ARE YOU NOT? >> WE ARE.
THIS IS A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE TO REALLY GET IN AND USE YOUR SKILLS OF DEDUCTION IN A HANDS
ON WAY. WE ARE ACTUALLY GIVING AWE CRIME SCENE WHEN
YOU COME IN. YOU ARE GETTING YOUR PENCIL AND YOUR CLIPBOARD,
AND GOING THROUGH AND VISITING THESE FORENSIC STATIONS AND ACTUALLY PERFORMING TESTS YOURSELF
LIKE YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WERE A REAL CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR.
>>I HEARD YOU GET A LITTLE NOTE PAD. YOU GET THE WHOLE THING THAT YOU A TRUE DETECTIVE.
>>THAT'S RIGHT. YOU ARE A TRUE DETECTIVE.
GRISSOM IS EVEN GOING TO WELCOME YOU WHEN YOU COME IN THE DOOR. WE ARE RUNNING A FILM
ABOUT FORENSIC SCIENCE AT THE BEGINNING, VERY SHORT. YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE OF THREE CRIME SCENES
ACTUALLY. SO IT IS SOMETHING TO COME BACK AND DO AGAIN
AND AGAIN, LITERALLY. >>LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I MEAN
A LOT OF THE EVENTS THAT YOU HAVE AT THE PUTNAM, YOU KIND OF GEAR TOWARDS FAMILY EXPERIENCES.
IS THIS FOR WHOLE FAMILY BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CRIME, AND I AM SURE THERE ARE SOME
KIDS THAT MAYBE IT IS OVER THEIR HEAD. >>WELL, THIS IS A FAMILY EXHIBIT.
EVERYTHING WE HAVE AT THE PUTNAM IS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. BUT, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO USE
YOUR BEST JUDGMENT AS A PARENT. SO FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, THIS IS A CRIME
SCENE. THERE ARE THREE CRIME SCENES.
THEY ARE STAGED. IT IS CLEARLY MANNEQUINS. THERE IS NOTHING
GRAPHIC IN TERMS OF IT LOOKING TOO REAL. BUT THEY ARE CRIME SCENES.
SOMEONE HAS DRIVEN THROUGH A HOUSE IN ONE OF THEM.
YOU DO WANT TO KNOW YOUR CHILDREN BEST AND KNOW AT ABOUT WHAT AGE THOUGH SHOULD BE EXPOSED
TO THAT. SOME CHILDREN ARE WATCHING THESE THINGS AT
HOME VERY EARLY. OTHERS DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT UNTIL LATER.
BUT FROM A CONTENT POINT OF VIEW THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO DO, EVEN IF IT IS
YOUR YOUNGEST CHILD JUST BEING ABLE TO SLIDE THINGS OVER ON THE DNA UNTIL THEY MAKE A MATCH.
MATCH IS SOMETHING VERY YOUNG CHILDREN UNDERSTAND. >>SO IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH
POPULAR CULTURE RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THE DIANA EXHIBIT.
AND NOW YOU HAVE THIS EXHIBIT AS WELL. IT USED TO BE MUSEUMS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
THESE STUFFY PLACES WHERE YOU JUST SAW A BUNCH OF DUST.
BUT I MEAN YOU REALLY MAKE IT A VIBRANT EXPERIENCE. >>EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT
BEING RELEVANT AND BEING DYNAMIC. AND IF CULTURAL POP CULTURE , IF YOU WILL,
CURRENT CULTURE HELPS PEOPLE RELATE AND BRINGS THEM TO THE PUTNAM, THEN EVERY EXPERIENCE
THEY HAVE THERE WILL BE A DELIGHT FOR THEM. ABOUT YOU COME TO ONE OF THESE EXHIBITS LIKE
CSI, AND YOU BUY YOUR TICKET, YOU HAVE ACTUALLY PURCHASED A TICKET TO THE ENTIRE 117,000 SQUARE
FEET THAT IS THE PUTNAM. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE BLOCK OUT
A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME THAN JUST THE TIME THEY THINK IT WILL TAKE TO BE IN THE TRAVELING
EXHIBIT AND START TO EXPLORE THE REST OF THE MUSEUM BECAUSE THE PUTNAM IS TRANSFORMING.
IT IS NOT THE PLACE THAT I REMEMBER FROM MY FIFTH GRADE FIELD TRIP.
>>AND IT IS KIND OF FUN, TOO, IS THAT IT IS CONTINUING TO TRANSFORM AND, KIM, I PROMISED
WE WOULD TALK ABOUT THE STEM EDUCATION. >>YES.
>>A PERMANENT EXHIBIT THAT IS GOING TO BE OPENING NEXT MONTH, FUNDRAISING CONTINUES.
BUT STEM IS SO CRITICAL RIGHT NOW, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS,
SO IMPORTANT ARE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, WHY IS IT BECOMING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR
MUSEUM? >> WELL, JIM, IF WE GO BACK TO 1867, THE PUTNAM
BEGAN AS DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. SO WE ARE COMING FULL CIRCLE.
AND AT A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TIME, AS YOU MENTIONED.
WE KNOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT TESTING AS WELL AS YOUNG PEOPLE IN
OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. WE KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF CAREERS NOW AND
CERTAINLY IN THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO BE CAREERS INVOLVING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATH. WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AT THE PUTNAM OVER
THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS EVERYTHING WE OFFER THAT'S RELATED TO THAT, SELLS OUT, HAS LONG
WAITING LISTS. SO THE TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE A SCIENCE
CENTER IS NOW. AND IT MADE SENSE FOR IT TO BE AT THE PUTNAM.
AND IT IS 45 OR MORE HANDS ON STATIONS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE SCIENCES, ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES
AND MATHEMATICS. WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WITH EACH ONE OF THESE
STATIONS, NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A BLAST DOING IT, BUT YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO
BE SURROUNDED BY INFORMATION IN A VERY GRAPHIC AND STUNNING WAY THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT CAREERS
YOU CAN HAVE IN THE SCIENCES OR CAREERS YOU MIGHT HAVE IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENGINEERING,
AND THE WAY THAT THOSE CAREERS HAVE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES AND WORK FOR ALL OF US TO
THE GOOD. >>AND, NICOLE, YOU ARE AT THE HEART OF THIS.
YOU ARE CREATING THIS. THIS IS WHAT GETS YOU UP, I AM SURE, EVERY
MORNING. >>ABSOLUTELY.
>>TO CREATE THIS AT THE PUTNAM. WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT NOW?
>>I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTEXT PIECE KIM MENTIONED. WE KNOW THERE WILL BE FUN EXHIBITS.
THEY WILL BE GREAT INTERACTIVES. WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE COME IN AND ENJOY THEM
AS SORT AFTER SNEAK PEEK. IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE
AND ADULTS ALIKE REALLY PLAYING TOGETHER AND EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS.
THE NEXT ADDED LAYER OF CONTEXT, IDEA, I AM GOOD A THE THAT HERE, AND I CAN ACCESS IT
HERE, AND I CAN SEE THAT I CAN DO THERE FOR MY LIFE IS JUST REALLY GRATIFYING THAT SOMEONE
COULD COME BACK, DECADES, A COUPLE DECADES FROM NOW AND SAY I EXPERIENCED THIS WHEN I
WAS A YOUNG PERSON AT THE MUSEUM, AND IT SHOWED ME I COULD DO THE REST OF THESE THINGS, AND
THEY PURSUE IT. >>UNDERUTILIZED 10,000 SQUARE FOOT AREA OF
THE PUTNAM. IT IS.
>>THAT'S A BIG AREA. >>IT IS.
>>WAS IT TOO SMALL FOR YOU? DO YOU WISH YOU HAD 11,000 OR DO YOU LOVE
THIS SPACE? >> YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT WORKING AT
THE PUTNAM, IS THAT WE REALLY WE ARE VERY CREATIVE AND VERY ENTREPRENEURIAL WE APPROACH
OUR OPPORTUNITIES. IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 50,000 SQUARE FEET,
WE WOULD HAVE FIGURED IT OUT. IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 5, WE WOULD HAVE FIGURED
IT OUT. SO WE HAVE THIS 10,000 SQUARE FEET REALLY
WELL UTILIZED NOW. I THINK IT WILL REACH ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY
IN TERMS OF HAVING THE RIGHT THINGS AND THE RIGHT PLACES FOR THE VISITORS TO REALLY ENJOY.
WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF WORKING WITH THE FOOTPRINT WE HAD. >>KIM, WITH THE LAST FEW SECONDS WE
HAVE, FUNDRAISING IS ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE. AND TO HELP PAY FOR THIS STEM PERMANENT EXHIBIT,
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE. >>ACTUALLY, JIM, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
THAT WE HAVE, IN FACT, RAISED THE $2.2MILLION. >>THAT'S FANTASTIC.
>>TO GET ALL THE INTERACTIVES WE WANT FOR THE CENTER.
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STEM INITIATIVE SIDE, IN THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CENTER
GOING AND TO KEEP IT DYNAMIC AND FRESH, WE WILL CONSTANTLY BE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HELP
US SUPPORT THE ONGOING OPERATIONS OF THE SCIENCE CENTER AND THE STEM INITIATIVE.
WE SEE 25,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN AND TEACHERS A YEAR IN THE MUSEUM, ANOTHER 15,000 IN THEIR
CLASSROOMS IN 90 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THAT'S A LOT OF WORK. AND WE CAN USE ALL THE
SUPPORT WE CAN GET TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THAT WORK IN THE VERY BEST AND IMPACTFULL
WAY. KIM, NICOLE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
OBVIOUSLY THE PUTNAM NOT IN A STATIC POSITION RIGHT NOW.
ALWAYS CHANGING, AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT IT, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >>THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
WQPT IS TAKING PART IN AN 18 MONTH LONG MISSION TO BETTER INFORM THE MILITARY POPULATION IN
THE CITIES OF EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
ON SATURDAY, THE TWO RIVERS YMCA IS HOSTING OPERATION FAMILY TIME OUT.
IT STARTS AT ONE IN THE AFTERNOON AND RUNS UNTIL 5 AT THE MOLINE Y.
THERE WILL BE SWIMMING, GAMES, SNACKS, 4 H ACTIVITIES. PREREGISTRATION IS NEEDED.
WE ARE NOW IN OUR ANNUAL SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.
THERE WILL BE NEW MUSIC SPECIALS AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU ARE ALREADY A MEMBER, WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
IF NOT, CONSIDER MAKING A COMMITMENT TO YOUR ONLY LOCAL PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION, WQPT.
YOU CAN DO IT BY CALLING THE NUMBER ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN OR LOG ON TO WQPT.ORG.
ON THE AIR, ON THE RADIO, ON THE WEB AND ON YOUR MOBILE
DEVICE, THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME TO JOIN US AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES ON "THE CITIES."