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Waters School Scores Biggest Sports Victory to Date ... a New Gym Floor

By Patty Wetli | October 21, 2014 5:20am
Waters Says Thank You!
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Damon Hennnesey, Terri Versace

LINCOLN SQUARE — What would you do with $100,000?

Titia Crespo bought a gym floor.

The principal of Waters Elementary, 4540 N. Campbell Ave., found herself the recipient of an unexpected windfall earlier this year when Porto and Barrett, the development team behind the new Ravenswood Mariano's, donated a total of $350,000 to neighborhood schools in the 47th Ward.

"We were ecstatic," Crespo said of the largesse. "The floor came to us through the angels."

Patty Wetli says the new gym floor will help serve other purposes at the school:

The Waters community expressed its gratitude at a dedication ceremony late last week, creating a special video for Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) and Tim Barrett, partner in Porto and Barrett.

 Waters Elementary's new gym floor comes as the school builds up its sports programs.
Waters Elementary's new gym floor comes as the school builds up its sports programs.
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DNAinfo/Patty Wetli

"It's kind of you to thank me, but thank you for letting us be involved in your community," Barrett said.

Though initially tempted to use the cash to fund a teaching position or new curriculum program, Crespo ultimately took a long-term approach when it came to spending the money.

"We could buy a teacher, but then what do we do next year? We would love to bring in extra personnel, but in the long run, it has to be sustainable," said the principal, who's been at Waters for 21 years, working her way up from art teacher.

"We wanted it to be something that was going to last," she said. The floor "is staying, it's not going away."

The old tile floor was starting to droop and crack, plus it was slippery, said Terri Versace, head of Waters Local School Council.

Though a new gym floor was on Waters' wish list, the school's major annual fundraising efforts go toward paying for half a music position plus Waters' ecology program, according to Versace.

With the Porto and Barrett donation, the school could spring for a floor without giving up something else, she said.

There's even enough money left — the floor cost approximately $60,000 — for a science lab.

Construction on the floor started in July and wrapped in August, just in time for volleyball season.

"Now we have the real deal, where the posts go in the ground," said Crespo, noting that the school used to have to jerry-rig nets to the wall.

Sports in general have been gaining steam at the school, part of Waters commitment to the "whole child," she said.

"There's the physical component but also that camaraderie, that sense of team and the opportunity to play with one another," Crespo said.

Improving the school's sports facilities — Waters has also invested in a new scoreboard and basketball backboard — sends an important message to students, according to assistant principal Nilsa Alvarez.

"Having a better environment gives them the subliminal message that they're worthy," Alvarez said. "It gives them a sense of pride."

But the new-and-improved gym also brings with it an added sense of responsibility.

"I told them, 'No more eating in the gym,'" Crespo said. "We need to take care of the gifts we've been given."

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