% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD CLOSING
% A CONTROVERSIAL YOUTH PRISON
% GETS THE GREEN LIGHT.
% REPUBLICANS PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT
% FOR THEIR 2023 PRIORITIES.
% A NEW BROADBAND MAP HAS SOME
% QUESTIONING IT'S ACCURACY.
% AND STUDENTS SPEAK OUT ON THEIR
% CAMPUS CEASING IN-PERSON
% CLASSES.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
% DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
% RESPONDS TO PERSISTENT
% CHALLENGES FOR LINCOLN HILLS.
% A REPUBLICAN LEADER SETS SIGHTS
% ON BIG TAX CUTS IN 2023.
% THE STATE CHALLENGES A FEDERAL
% BROADBAND MAP AND THE BIG IMPACT
% OF A SMALL CAMPUS CLOSING TO
% IN-PERSON CLASSES, IT IS "HERE
% AND NOW" FOR DECEMBER 16TH.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THE HISTORICALLY VERY
% TROUBLED LINCOLN HILLS JOVE NILE
% CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN
% NORTHERN WISCONSIN COMES INTO
% ANOTHER CALENDAR YEAR FACING
% UNDERSTAFFING, EVEN AS MILWAUKEE
% MOVES ALONG WITH TRYING TO
% LOCATE A NEW FACILITY ON THE
% CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE.
% IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE
% STATE LAWMAKERS PROMISED TO
% CLOSE THE LINCOLN HILLS SCHOOL
% FOR BOYS AND COPPER LAKE SCHOOL
% FOR GIRLS BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS
% CONDITIONS THERE FOR INMATES AND
% STAFF.
% FOR DEVELOPMENTS ON THIS WE TURN
% TO THE WISCONSIN SECRETARY OF
% CORRECTIONS, KEVIN CARR.
% SECRETARY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
% >> THIS WEEK THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE PLAN COMMISSION
% OKAYED.
% WHY HAS THE CLOSURE AND
% RELOCATION OF LINCOLN HILLS
% TAKEN SO LONG?
% >> WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS
% PAST SPRING ACT 252 WAS PASSED
% WHICH PROVIDED THE NEEDED
% FUNDING IN ORDER FOR US TO
% ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
% PLANS IN A VERY DELIBERATE WAY.
% PRIOR TO THAT, THE FUNDING WAS
% NOT AVAILABLE AND OUR
% ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN TRYING
% TO GET THE FUNDING AND BUILD
% THIS NEW FACILITY SINCE WE CAME
% INTO OFFICE IN 2019.
% >> HOW WILL MOVING IT TO
% MILWAUKEE IN YOUR MIND HELP THE
% JUVENILES INCARCERATED THERE AND
% THEIR FAMILIES?
% >> WELL, THE BEST SCIENCE
% SURROUNDING JUVENILE CORRECTIONS
% SUGGESTS THAT THE CONCEPT OF
% MOVING OUR KIDS CLOSER TO HOME,
% CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE
% THEY COME FROM, WHERE THEIR
% FAMILIES ARE, WHERE THERE ARE
% SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES AND
% PROGRAMS AND CULTURALLY
% APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH
% IS A POSITIVE REASON THAT
% PROMOTES THE REINTEGRATION OF
% YOUTH BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES
% AND LOWERS REPEATING AND KEEPS
% KIDS FROM ENTERING THE ADULT
% CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.
% >> VERY KEY.
% MEANWHILE THE COURT-ORDERED
% MONITOR OF THE CONDITIONS AT THE
% FACILITY IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN
% REPORTS IT REMAINS UNDERSTAFFED.
% HOW MANY TEACHER AND SOCIAL
% WORKER VACANCIES ARE THERE RIGHT
% NOW?
% >> I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT
% NUMBER OF VACANCIES BUT WE DO
% HAVE VACANCIES IN OUR TEACHING
% AND SOCIAL WORKER POSITIONS.
% NOT ONLY AT LINCOLN HILLS BUT
% THROUGHOUT THE CORRECTIONAL
% SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S THE ADULT
% OR JUVENILE SYSTEM.
% WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE EX ACTS
% SAME TYPE OF VACANCY ISSUES THAT
% THE PUBLIC SECTOR OR PRIVATE
% SECTOR IS EXPERIENCING IN THESE
% AREAS.
% PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE EXPERIENCING
% A TEACHER SHORTAGE.
% MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE
% EXPERIENCING MEDICAL STAFF
% SHORTAGES AND SOCIAL WORK AND
% CLINICIAN SHORTAGES.
% THIS IS JUST NOT UNIQUE TO
% LINCOLN HILLS AND THE WISCONSIN
% CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.
% >> WHAT EFFECT DOES THAT
% STAFFING SHORTAGE HAVE ON THE
% JUVENILES THERE IN TERMS OF
% THEIR PROGRAMMING?
% >> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY
% THIS ABOUT OUR STAFFING PROBLEM
% IS THAT RECENTLY WE HAVE SEEN A
% TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE
% NUMBER OF STAFFING VACANCIES
% BEING REDUCED.
% SO RECENTLY WE HAVE HIRED MORE
% STAFF NOT ONLY IN JUVENILE
% CORRECTIONS BUT IN OUR ADULT
% INSTITUTIONS THAN WE HAVE IN ALL
% OF THE PREVIOUS FEW MONTHS.
% OUR BIGGEST CLASSES HAVE BEEN
% THIS PAST FALL.
% WITH THAT BEING SAID, A LACK OF
% STAFFING IN ANY FACILITY IMPACTS
% THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITIES THAT
% THOSE WHO RESIDE THERE CAN
% ENGAGE IN.
% SO WHETHER THAT'S EDUCATION OR
% RECREATION, SOME OF THOSE
% ACTIVITIES ARE CURTAILED BECAUSE
% OF A LACK OF STAFFING.
% BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT
% WITH OUR STAFFING AT LINCOLN
% HILLS AND COPPER LAKE WHERE WE
% HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE
% AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OUR YOUTH
% ARE SPENDING OUT OF THEIR ROOMS.
% SOME UP TO 90% OF THE TIME OF
% THEIR AVAILABLE TIME DURING THE
% DAY THEY ARE SPENDING OUT OF
% THEIR ROOM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
% LATEST HIRES THAT WE'VE BEEN
% ABLE TO MAKE.
% >> IN A PERFECT WORLD GOING
% FORWARD, WHAT SHOULD A BOY OR
% GIRL SENTENCED TO LINCOLN HILLS
% OR COPPER LAKE, THEIR FAMILIES
% OR EVEN CITIZENS AT LARGE BE
% ABLE TO EXPECT OF INCARCERATION
% IN STATE DETENTION?
% >> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A
% GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WHEN OUR
% ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER IN
% 2019, LINCOLN HILLS AND COPPER
% LAKE OPERATED WITH A MORE
% PUNITIVE MODEL OF CORRECTION.
% WE HAVE TRANSFORMED LINCOLN
% HILLS AND COPPER LAKE INTO A
% MORE TREATMENT-ORIENTED FACILITY
% BASED ON BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND
% A NEW BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT
% SYSTEM THAT PROMOTES
% RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND
% REWARDS SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.
% SO WE'RE MORE FOCUSED ON
% PROVIDING TREATMENT THAT'S BASED
% ON BEST PRACTICES IN THIS
% INDUSTRY AND TRAUMA-INFORMED
% CARE PRINCIPLES.
% >> SECRETARY KEVIN CARR, THANK
% YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
% >> THIS FALL'S ELECTION SAW
% REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
% GAIN ADDITIONAL SEATS IN BOTH
% THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.
% BUT NOT ENOUGH TO OVERRIDE THE
% VETO PEN OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS.
% SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
% SCHULTZ SAT DOWN WITH DEVIN
% LEMAHIEU THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT
% HIS VISION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE
% SESSION.
% >> REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY
% LEADER LEMAHIEU SENT A CLEAR AND
% DIVIDED MESSAGE IN THE ELECTION.
% >> VOTERS TRUST US BUT WE
% LEARNED THAT WISCONSIN MAYBE
% LIKES DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AS WELL
% BY REELECTING TONY EVERS.
% >> HE SAYS REPUBLICANS HELPED
% EVERS WIN BY SENDING HIM TWO
% FISCALLY CONSERVATIVES BUDGETS
% TO SIGN.
% >> UNFORTUNATELY FOR US IT
% WORKED FOR HIM BUT WE'LL
% CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE THINK IS
% IMPORTANT FOR STATE OF
% WISCONSIN.%>> REPUBLICANS AND
EVERS SAW
% EACH OTHER AS ADVERSARIES OVER
% THE LAST TWO YEARS SO THERE WAS
% LITTLE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
% GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE
% LEGISLATURE.
% LEMAHIEU HOPES IT'S CHANGING.
% >> OBVIOUSLY SOME PEOPLE IN THE
% STATE WHO VOTED FOR REPUBLICAN
% LEGISLATORS AND A DEMOCRAT FOR
% GOVERNOR SO WE NEED TO TRY TO
% WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOME
% SOLUTIONS WHILE STILL MAKING
% SURE WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE IN
% OUR BUDGETING.
% >> THE BUDGET WILL BE THE FIRST
% BIG TEST OF WHETHER THE TWO
% BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT CAN COME
% TOGETHER.
% THANKFULLY, WRITING A BUDGET
% WHEN THE STATE HAS A PROJECTED
% $6.6 BILLION SURPLUS IS A LOT
% EASIER THAN WHEN THERE IS A
% DEFICIT.%>> WE HAVE AN UNPREC
EDENTED
% SURPLUS.%>> HE SAYS REPUBLICA
NS WILL
% START WITH A GIANT TAX CUT.
% >> WHEN THE STATE IS COLLECTING
% 6.6 BILLION MORE THAN THEY'RE
% SPENDING, PEOPLE ARE BEING
% OVERTAXED.
% WE NEED TO PROVIDE PERMANENT TAX
% RELIEF IN THAT SITUATION.
% >> GOVERNOR EVERS SAYS HIS
% PRIORITIES WILL INCLUDE MORE
% MONEY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
% LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
% REPUBLICANS AREN'T OPPOSED TO
% THAT BUT HE HOPES TO NEGOTIATE
% THE DOLLAR FIGURES WITH THE
% GOVERNOR.
% >> IF THE GOVERNOR IS WILLING TO
% WORK WITH US AND NEGOTIATE I
% THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOME OF
% THE THINGS HE WANTS TO
% ACCOMPLISH WHILE STILL DOING
% IMPORTANT TAX RELIEF, INVESTING
% IN EDUCATION, EXPANDING SCHOOL
% CHOICE.%>> THE NEXT COMPROMI
SE BETWEEN
% SENATE REPUBLICANS AND THE
% GOVERNOR IS OVER APPOINTMENTS.
% OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
% REPUBLICANS HAVE REFUSED TO HOLD
% FINAL VOTES ON MULTIPLE
% CABINET-LEVEL APPOINTMENTS TO
% GOVERNING BODIES LIKE THE DNR
% BOARD AND THE UW BOARD OF
% REGENTS.
% HE SAID EVERS PICKS WERE TOO
% PARTISAN.%>> WE'VE SOME OF T
HE
% APPOINTMENTS LATELY SEEM TO BE
% MORE POLITICALLY CHARGED.
% >> THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSY WAS
% OR FRED PREHN WHO REFUSED TO
% STEP DAB AFTER REPUBLICANS URGED
% HIM TO STAY ON TO DENY EVERS'
% NOMINEE THE MAJORITY.
% THE CASE WENT TO THE WISCONSIN
% SUPREME COURT.
% >> DO YOU EXPECT FRED PREHN TO
% STAY ON THE DNR BOARD?
% >> I'M NOT SURE.
% I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM.
% YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO
% CONFIRM SOME OF THESE
% APPOINTMENTS THEY NEED TO BE
% PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND
% SERIOUS FOR THESE POSITIONS AND
% NOT JUST POLITICAL OPERATIVES
% DOING THE WILL OF ENVIRONMENTAL
% EXTREMISTS.%>> THE SESSION S
TARTS
% JANUARY 3RD.
% I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND
% NOW" REPORTING FROM MADISON.
% >> DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT
% CRUMMY OR NO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET
% COVERAGE AT ALL WHERE YOU LIVE?
% THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
% COMMISSION IS OUT WITH A NEW MAP
% THAT SHOWS WISCONSIN HAS 98%
% BROADBAND COVERAGE.
% OUR OWN PUBLIC SERVICE
% COMMISSION SAYS NOT SO FAST
% BEGINNING THAT ITS OWN MAP SHOWS
% MUCH SPOTTIER COVERAGE IN
% WISCONSIN.%THE PSC IS INVITIN
G CUSTOMERS TO
% CHALLENGE THE FCC MAP.
% AT STAKE, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
% IN FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS FOR
% UPGRADES.
% ALISSA KENNEY DIGITAL EQUITY
% DIRECTOR AT THE PSC TELLS US
% MORE.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
% ME.
% >> SO WHY IS THE PSC INVITING
% CUSTOMERS TO CHALLENGE THE FCC
% MAP?
% IS IT THAT INACCURATE?
% >> SO THE NEW NATIONAL BROADBAND
% MAP, THIS IS A DRAFT OF WHAT IS
% OUR FIRST AND MOST GRANULAR
% ADDRESS BY ADDRESS VERSION OF
% BROADBAND COVERAGE IN THE UNITED
% STATES.%AND SO -- THIS IS TH
E FIRST TIME
% THAT CUSTOMERS AND GOVERNMENTS
% CAN DIRECTLY CHALLENGE THE MAP.
% IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
% RIGHT NOW AND PARTICULARLY
% BEFORE JANUARY 13TH FOR PEOPLE
% TO CHALLENGE ANYTHING THAT'S
% INACCURATE IN THE MAP BECAUSE
% OUR FEDERAL ALLOCATION OF
% INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS IS GOING
% TO BE BASED ON SOME OF THE
% UNDERLYING NUMBERS IN THIS MAP.
% >> SO WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE
% PLACES THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN
% WITHOUT BROADBAND,
% NOTWITHSTANDING THE COVERAGE
% THAT THAT FCC MAP SHOWS.
% BUT HOW MANY AREAS OR HOW MANY
% PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN ARE WITHOUT
% IT?
% >> SO BROADBAND HAS BEEN A BIT
% OF A MOVING GOALPOST FOR THE
% PAST FEW YEARS.
% IF YOU LOOK AT KIND OF THE OLDER
% STANDARD OF 25 BY THREE, THERE
% IS ABOUT 650,000 PEOPLE, OR, YOU
% KNOW, 230,000 LOCATIONS IN THE
% STATE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
% ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
% THERE IS PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE
% THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE BROADBAND
% THAT'S AVAILABLE, WHICH IS A
% DIFFERENT AND ALSO IMPORTANT
% PROBLEM FOR US TO BE FOCUSED ON.
% >> BUT THEN WHY WOULD THE FCC
% MAPS NOT BE ACCURATE?
% >> SO I THINK THE FCC MAP THAT
% YOU PROBABLY HAVE PULLED UP
% LIKELY INCLUDES SATELLITE.
% AND SO THE SATELLITE THAT HIGH
% ALTITUDE SATELLITE IS SOMETHING
% THAT GENERALLY THE FEDERAL
% INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS AND STATE
% BROADBAND PROGRAMS DON'T
% CONSIDER.%SO WHAT'S REALLY I
MPORTANT WHEN
% PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THAT NEW
% FEDERAL MAP IS THAT THEY MAKE
% SURE THAT THEY FILTER AND LOOK
% AT SORT OF A MORE APPLES TO
% APPLES COMPARISON.
% SO THAT 98.1% INCLUDES ALL THE
% PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO ACCESS
% THAT SATELLITE SERVICE.
% AND REALLY THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
% IN THE STATE THAT CAN ACCESS
% SATELLITE SERVICE.
% AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT
% FOR THIS MAP IS WHO CAN ACCESS
% THAT FIXED WIRELESS OR WIRE LINE
% SERVICE IN THEIR HOME AT 25-3.
% SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE BIG
% DIFFERENCES IN THAT INCLUDING
% SATELLITE AND WHILE THE FCC IS
% TECHNOLOGY NEUTRAL AND INCLUDES
% SATELLITE IN THEIR MAP, THE
% STATE BROADBAND OFFICE DOES NOT.
% >> OKAY.
% SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THEY
% SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU
% SAY 25-3?
% >> SURE.
% 25 MEGA BITS DOWNLOAD AND THREE
% MEGABITS PER SECOND UPLOAD.
% THE SPEED OF INTERNET.
% A LOT OF THINGS GO INTO THE
% QUALITY AND SERVICE THAT
% SOMEBODY HAS.
% BUT THAT'S THE REALLY IMPORTANT
% NUMBER FOR DETERMINING IF A
% LOCATION WILL HELP THE STATE GET
% ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
% AND SO -- AND SO WHAT WE'RE
% ASKING FOLKS TO DO IS GO INTO
% THE MAP AND TYPE THEIR ADDRESS
% AND LOOK AT WHAT THE SERVICE
% PROVIDERS ARE LISTED ARE AND IF
% ANY OF THEM ARE UNTRUE AS IT
% RELATES TO AVAILABILITY OR THAT
% THEY SEE A MISTAKE RELATED TO
% AVAILABILITY TO SUBMIT A
% CHALLENGE.
% >> SO ALREADY MORE THAN
% $100 MILLION OF COVID RELIEF
% FUNDING HAS BEEN DISBURSED BY
% THE PSC IN WISCONSIN TOWARD
% BROADBAND.
% THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE STATE
% AUDIT BUREAU.
% AND THIS IS A BOAT LOAD OF MONEY
% GOING TOWARD HIGH SPEED INTERNET
% PLUS THE POTENTIAL AS YOU SPOKE
% TO OF REALLY A BILLION DOLLARS
% MORE FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE
% LAW.
% IS BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE THIS
% HUGELY EXPENSIVE?
% >> IT IS HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND
% PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU GET TO
% THESE LAST MILE LOCATIONS IN
% SOME OF OUR MORE SCARCELY OR
% SPARSELY POPULATED RURAL AREAS.
% AND SO SOMETIMES YOU ARE TALKING
% ABOUT 1 OR 2 LOCATIONS PER MILE.
% SOMETIMES YOU ARE EVEN TALKING
% ABOUT 1 OR 2 MILES PER LOCATION.
% AND SO THE COSTS DO INCREASE.
% WISCONSIN IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE
% BUT SOME OF OUR GRANITE BLUFFS
% AND OUR CRANBERRY BOGS MAKE FOR
% UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES INSTALLING
% THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKE IT
% ESPECIALLY CHALLENGE KNOWLEDGE.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% ALY
% ALYSSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
% CONSUMERS HAVE UNTIL
% JANUARY 13TH TO CHALLENGE THEIR
% SERVICE BY GOING TO THE FEDERAL
% COMMUNICATION COMMISSION
% BROADBAND MAP, ENTERING THEIR
% ADDRESS AND CLICKING ON THE
% LOCATION OR AVAILABILITY
% CHALLENGE LINKS.
% IN OTHER NEWS UW-RICHLAND NOW A
% SATELLITE OF UW-PLATTEVILLE HAS
% PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR MORE
% THAN 55 YEARS, EVEN THROUGH MOST
% OF THE MERGERS, RESTRUCTURES AND
% REORGANIZATIONS TO RICHLAND, THE
% TWO-YEAR CAMPUS HAD ONCE
% FLOURISHED WITH MORE THAN 500
% STUDENTS AS RECENTLY AS 2015.
% NOW WITH JUST 60 STUDENTS, UW
% SYSTEM PRESIDENT JAY ROTHAM IS
% CUTTING HIS LOSSES CALLING
% IN-PERSON CLASSES THERE NO
% LONGER TEN ABLE GIVEN THOSE
% ENROLLMENT DECLINES SAYING
% ENDING IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AT
% RICHLAND WAS A VERY DIFFICULT
% DECISION.
% WE'RE FACING THE ENROLLMENT
% COLLEGES THAT TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
% ARE FACING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
% WITH STUDENT ENROLLMENT AS 60
% STUDENTS, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
% PROVIDE A HIGH-QUALITY COLLEGE
% EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS WHILE
% MAINTAINING OUR FIDUCIARY
% RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE SOUND
% UNIVERSITY OPERATIONS.
% THIS IS DEVASTATING DEVELOPMENT
% TO THE STUDENTS WHOSE NUMBERS
% MAY BE SMALL BUT RESPONSE HAS
% BEEN OVERWHELMING.
% >> WE CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT THIS
% CAMPUS.%WE HATE TO SEE IT GO
.
% >> THE BIGGEST THING WAS
% AFFORDABILITY.%COMING HERE RA
THER THAN GOING TO
% A FOUR YEAR RIGHT AWAY IS SUCH A
% BIG DIFFERENCE.
% >> THE STUDENT BODY IS JUST SO
% TOGETHER LIKE A CLOSE KNIT
% FAMILY.
% >> LOCATION AND AFFORDABILITY.
% I LIKED THE CLOSE KNIT
% COMMUNITY.
% SO MANY FARM KIDS AROUND HERE
% THAT WANT TO PURSUE A HIGHER
% EDUCATION BUT CAN'T GO FAR FROM
% HOME BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LEAVE
% THE ENTIRE FARM.
% >> A CRITICAL ACCESS POINT FOR
% STUDENTS IN THE AREA AND BEYOND
% TO START HIGHER EDUCATION.
% >> THIS HAS BEEN COMMUNITIES HAS
% BEEN A BIG PART OF THE COMMUNITY
% SINCE THE 60s.
% >> STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATES
% FOR TRYING TO SAVE THIS PLACE.
% >> AFTER ALL OF OUR FACULTY WAS
% TAKEN AWAY AND AFTER EVERYTHING
% HAS BEEN SLOWLY BEEN TAKEN AWAY
% FROM THE CAMPUS WE ARE LOSING
% ENROLLMENT.
% IT HAS BEEN A LACK OF SUPPORT
% THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HELPING US.
% >> WHAT WILL WE DO NEXT?
% >> NOW THAT THIS OPTION IS BEING
% TAKEN AWAY FROM ME I DON'T KNOW
% WHAT I'LL DO.
% >> I DON'T HAVE THE PLANS IN
% PLACE.
% NAVIGATING IT HAS BEEN A
% CHALLENGE.%>> SAD.
% I HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM MY
% FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
% >> I HOPE THE UW BOARD OF
% REGENTS AND SYSTEM PRESIDENT CAN
% REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE AND
% IMPORTANCE OF THIS CAMPUS.
% >> I HOPE THEY DO LOOK IN THE
% MIRROR HARD AND REALIZE THIS IS
% THE WRONG DECISION.
% >> IF THEY'LL MAKE DECISIONS FOR
% US, TALK TO US.
% THIS IS OUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
% WE'RE HERE FOR AND THIS IS OUR
% CAMPUS WE'RE HERE FOR, COMMUNITY
% AND FAMILY AND NOW YOU'RE TAKING
% IT AWAY FROM US.
% >> WHEN YOU MAKE THAT DECISION
% THINK ABOUT US KIDS LOSING
% ACCESS TO EDUCATION CLOSE TO
% HOME.%>> MEMBERS OF THE COMM
UNITY ARE
% ALSO SPEAKING OUT ON THE
% DECISION TO CLOSE UW-PLATTEVILLE
% RICHLAND TO IN-PERSON CLASSES
% INCLUDING THE CHAIR OF THE
% EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON THE
% RICHLAND COUNTY BOARD OF
% SUPERVISORS.
% A LONG TIME ADMINISTRATOR AND
% LECTURER ON THE CAMPUS AND LINDA
% GENTES JOINS US NOW.
% WHEN YOU LEARN THAT THEY WILL
% CLOSE TO IN-PERSON CLASSES AFTER
% THE SPRING SEMESTER, WHAT WAS
% YOUR REACTION?
% >> WELL, I WAS SURPRISED SINCE
% THEY TOLD US A COUPLE WEEKS
% AHEAD THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING
% TO GO AS NORMAL AND WE HAD BEEN
% ASKING FOR A LOT OF CHANGES, AND
% THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT
% THEY WERE PLANNING TO NOT HAVE
% IN-PERSON CLASSES AT THE CAMPUS.
% AND THEN ABOUT TEN MINUTES
% BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME
% OUT, A CALL CAME TO THE CHAIR OF
% OUR COUNTY BOARD AND HE CALLED
% ME IMMEDIATELY AND I GUESS WE
% WERE BOTH JUST -- FOUND IT
% UNBELIEVABLE AT THAT MOMENT.
% >> BECAUSE HOW IMPORTANT IS THE
% COLLEGE TO THE COMMUNITY THERE?
% >> WELL, THIS CAMPUS IS
% EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE
% CAMPUS.
% IT -- AS PART OF THE COLLEGES,
% WE WERE COLLECTIVELY THE THIRD
% LARGEST -- THE UW COLLEGES WE
% WERE THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE
% SYSTEM AND OUR MISSION WAS
% AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
% AND OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE AT
% RICHLAND IS WE HAD THE LOWEST
% COST PER STUDENT INDEX OF ANY
% CAMPUS IN THERE.
% NOW THAT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS,
% BUT OUR COMMUNITY HAS HONORED
% THE CONTRACT FOR MANY YEARS.
% WE HAVE 134 ACRES.
% WE HAVE SEVEN BUILDINGS.
% WE HAVE THE CAMPUS IS PROBABLY
% WORTH AT LEAST $38 MILLION.
% THE FINANCIAL IMPACT BACK TO OUR
% COUNTY, WE HAD TWO IMPACT
% STUDIES AND ONE IN 2018 AND --
% 2019 AND 1 IN 2005-2006.
% IT MAY NOT BE BIG NUMBERS FOR
% SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT
% AREAS, IT WOULD BE AROUND $7
% MILLION AND $6 MILLION BACK INTO
% OUR COUNTY.
% FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT OUR COUNTY
% PUTS INTO THE CAMPUS WE RECEIVE
% $205 BACK.
% NOW, IN ADDITION, JUST RECENTLY
% I JUST QUICKLY MADE A LIST OF
% ALL THE PROFESSIONALS IN TOWN
% WHO HAD STARTED THEIR EDUCATION
% HERE AND CAME UP WITH OVER 200
% NAMES WITHOUT EVEN TRYING TO ASK
% ANYBODY.%AND OUR TEACHERS, OU
R LAWYERS,
% WE HAVE PHYSICIANS, ATTORNEYS,
% NURSES, THEY'VE ALL BEEN ABLE TO
% START THEIR EDUCATION HERE IN
% THE COMMUNITY AND THEN GO ON AND
% THEN BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND IT
% WAS AFFORDABLE FOR THEM TO BE
% ABLE TO DO THAT.
% SO WE FEEL THIS IS A GREAT LOSS.
% IT IS OUR FUTURE, WE'RE LOSING
% OUR FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND
% OUR FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
% >> SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS SPOKE
% TO THE STRAIGHT LINE THAT THEY
% SAW AND ALSO STAFF TO LOSS OF
% ENROLLMENT.
% WHAT HAPPENED TO UW-RICHLAND
% ONCE THE SYSTEM STARTED ITS
% COST-SAVING MEASURES AND
% RESTRUCTURING TO MAKE IT A
% SATELLITE OF PLATTEVILLE?
% >> OKAY.
% MANY THINGS HAPPENED HERE.
% A BRIEF EXPLANATION -- I'LL GIVE
% YOU A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THAT.
% SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE HAD A
% MILLION DOLLARS IF REVENUE FOR
% THE CAMPUS.
% WE HAD 500 STUDENTS.
% WE HAD 50 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
% HERE.
% WE WERE A THRIVING, INCLUSIVE
% EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
% WHEN REGIONALIZATION AND
% UW-PLATTEVILLE HAPPENED WE LOST
% 55% OF OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
% FROM THE UW SYSTEM AND THEN
% THROUGH PLATTEVILLE WE LOST A
% DEAN'S POSITION, A RECRUITER, 11
% OUT OF 18 FACULTY MEMBERS,
% STUDENT SERVICES STAFF,
% INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR AND
% CONTINUING EDUCATION DIRECTOR.
% AND IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO
% MARKETING PLAN NOR ANY STRATEGIC
% PLAN AND YOUTH OPTIONS AND
% ACADEMIC ALLIANCE PROGRAMS WERE
% ENDED.
% THE CAMPUS WAS ACTUALLY TOLD IT
% WAS NO LONGER A SEPARATE ENTITY
% AND THAT WE WERE -- WE DIDN'T
% HAVE OUR OWN CAMPUS CULTURE.
% WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW
% IT WORKED IN THAT WAY WITH OUR
% COMMUNITY.% AND OUR ACTIVE G
OVERNANCE WAS
% LOST AND RECRUITING WAS STOPPED
% EVEN THOUGH OUR FOUNDATION
% OFFERED TO HIRE A RECRUITER.
% AND WE HAD STUDENTS WISHING TO
% APPLY FROM AROUND THE STATE AND
% ALL OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
% WISHING TO APPLY AND THEY WERE
% DEFLECTED FROM APPLYING AT THE
% ADMISSIONS OFFICE AT
% UW-PLATTEVILLE.
% SO THERE WAS NO AUTONOMY AT
% RICHLAND AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT
% HAS CAUSED THE DEMISE OF OUR
% WONDERFUL CAMPUS.
% >> I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT FROM
% YOU, SOMEONE SO INVOLVED AS A
% SUPERVISOR ON YOUR COUNTY BOARD
% THERE IN RICHLAND COUNTY.
% WE KNOW THAT THE UW SYSTEM
% PRESIDENT HAS ASKED THE
% PLATTEVILLE CHANCELLOR TO COME
% UP WITH A PLAN AS TO A WAY
% FORWARD WITHOUT IN-PERSON
% CLASSES THERE BY MID-JANUARY.
% BUT LINDA GENTES, WE NEED TO
% LEAVE IT THERE.
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
% LUCK.%>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
% AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% WE'LL BE BACK IN THE NEW YEAR.
% UNTIL THEN, I'M FREDERICA
% FREYBERG, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND
% AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.