WITH THE UPTICK IN VOLUME, WE
DEFINITELY NEED MORE HELP IN
TERMS OF POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO
MOVE THAT FORWARD.
>> WELL, IN FACT, YOU DESCRIBE
HAVING BEEN CRITICALLY SHORT
STAFFED THERE AT THE AGENCY.
DESCRIBE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN HANDLING WHAT KIND OF
VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS AND
INQUIRIES.
>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
SO -- SO AS OF ABOUT SIX YEARS
AGO, THERE WAS -- THERE'S AN
ANNUAL BASIS ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT
25,000 TO 30,000 LICENSES THAT
WERE APPLIED FOR.
IN THE RECENT BIAN YUM, THAT
NUMBER CRYPT UP TO 60,000.
COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE WHO NEED
HELP MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND ALSO THEN TO PROCESS THINGS.
>> THE AGENCY WENT TO THE ONLINE
LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS, I
BELIEVE IT WAS JUST THIS PAST
SPRING, BUT THE PHARMACY SOCIETY
TELLS US THEY'VE GOT 200
APPLICATIONS IN THE PIPELINE
RIGHT NOW SAYING THE NEW SYSTEM
DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE HELPED THE
DELAYS.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I THINK AT THIS POINT
IN THE YEAR, THERE'S ALWAYS
GOING TO BE LICENSE HOLDERS IN
SOME -- OR PERSPECTIVE LICENSE
HOLDERS IN SOME STAGE OF
PROCESS.
LICENSING IS, AS YOU MAY BE
AWARE, NOT NECESSARILY A VENDING
MACHINE.
>> FATHIYA:
>> Frederica: FREDERICA
FREYBERG
FRED REI CAPPRICORN
? ?
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> Frederica: PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING DELAYS ARE CREATING A
CRISIS AND COMPOUNDING THE WORK
FORCE SHORTAGE.
THE STATE OF EDUCATION REMAINS
OPTIMISTIC, BUT THE LONG HAUL
EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ENDURE
FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND A
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
REPRESENTS WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR
INCLUSIVE, LOW-INCOME HOUSING.
? ?
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW,"
ADDRESSING A BUREAUCRATIC
BACKLOG, THE NEWEST LEADER OF
THE STATE'S PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING AGENCY, DAN HERETH,
JOINING US, AND A RURAL SCHOOL
PSYCHOLOGIES SAID THE PANDEMIC
SLIDE IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT,
AND MURV SEYMOUR COMMENTS ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S "HERE & NOW," SEPTEMBER 23.
>> Announcer: "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY FUNDING FOR
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
? ?
>> Frederica: THE WORK FORCE
SHORTAGE IMPACTING THE LION'S
SHARE OF THE JOB MARKET IS
SLAMMING PHARMACIES.
WITH THE ADDED WORKLOAD OF
PROVIDING VACCINATIONS AND
BOOSTER SHOTS, THE CRISIS LEVEL
SHORTAGE OF PHARMACISTS AND
TECHNICIANS IS LEAVING SOME TO
TURN PATIENTS AWAY OR WAIT DAYS
FOR A PRESCRIPTION TO BE FILLED.
THE SHORTAGE COULD BE
ALLEVIATED.
THE PHARMACY SOCIETY OF
WISCONSIN SAYS MORE THAN 200
PHARMACISTS HAVE EXPERIENCED
SEVERE DELAYS IN THEIR LICENSING
PROCESSING PREVENTING THEM FROM
WORKING.
IT'S NOT JUST PHARMACISTS.
NURSES, THERAPISTS, AND OTHER
PROFESSIONS ARE FEELING THE
FRUSTRATION.
FOR ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS IS
HAPPENING, WE TURN TO THE NEW
SECRETARY DESIGNEE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN CHARGE
OF APPROVING THESE LICENSES, DAN
HERETH, JOINING US NOW, AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU, FREDERICA, FOR
ALLOWING ME SOME TIME TO JOIN
YOU TODAY.
THIS ISSUE IS CERTAINLY ONE
THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR
HEARTS AT THE AGENCY.
LICENSING FOLKS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN IS A RESPONSIBILITY
THAT WE TAKE INCREDIBLY
SERIOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE CERTAINLY IN
UNCERTAIN TIMES, AND HAVE BEEN
FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND THE
MOST RECENT IT RATION OF --
ITERATION OF THAT IS WORK FORCE
SHORTAGES.
WE AT THE DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED
THOSE.
THOSE OUT THERE IN THE
COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING
THOSE.
YOU KNOW, RECORD HIGH LABOR
FORCE PARTICIPATION, RECORD LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT, THOSE ARE GOOD
THING, BUT THAT LEAVES US WITH
NEW CHALLENGES TO FACE, AND,
CERTAINLY, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS
THAT.
AT OUR AGENCY, WE WORK WITH OVER
240 UNIQUE CREDENTIALS.
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS,
LICENSING VOLUME HAS BEEN
INCREASING DRAMATICALLY EVERY
YEAR.
OVER 100% INCREASE IN THAT
TIMEFRAME, AND WHILE WE ARE
PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE BEEN
MAKING AS OF THIS YEAR, WE'RE
ISSUING LICENSING 40% FASTER
THAN WE'VE EVER ISSUED THEM IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE LICENSING MORE PEOPLE
ANNUALLY THAN WE'VE EVER
LICENSED IN THE HISTORY OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT THERE'S
MORE WORK TO DO, AND PART OF
THAT WORK IS OUR BUDGET, AND SO
THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES, WE
REQUESTED SOME ADDITIONAL
POSITIONS.
THOSE REQUESTS CERTAINLY HAVEN'T
BEEN FULLY MET, AND WE'RE GOING
TO REQUEST MORE POSITIONS IN
THIS BUDGET CYCLE BECAUSE, AS
YOU WELL KNOW, SERVING OUR FOLKS
HERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
IS A TOP PRIORITY.
>> Frederica: SO I WANT TO
CIRCLE BACK TO SOME OF THE
POINTS YOU'VE MADE, BUT, FIRST,
WHAT CAN YOU TELL PEOPLE WANTING
TO WORK IN THEIR FIELD, BUT
THEY'RE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR
LICENSE?
>> YOU KNOW, MY BEST ADVICE IS
ALWAYS TO LOG IN TO THE SYSTEM,
PARTICULARLY FOR FOLKS WHO
APPLIED IN OUR BRAND NEW SYSTEM
LICENSEE.
AGAIN, THE -- THAT TECHNOLOGY
COMBINED WITH SOME OF OUR
EFFORTS INTERNALLY ALLOWED US TO
ISSUE LICENSES 40% FASTER, BUT
WITH THE UPTICK IN VOLUME, WE
DEFINITELY NEED MORE HELP IN
POSITIONS TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
>> Frederica: IN FACT, YOU
DESCRIBE HAVING BEEN CRITICALLY
SHORT STAFFED IN THE AGENCY.
DESCRIBE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
HANDLING WHAT KIND OF VOLUME OF
APPLICATIONS AND INQUIRIES.
>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
SO AS OF ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO,
THERE WAS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
ANYWHERE FROM 25,000 TO 30,000
LICENSES THAT WERE APPLIED FOR.
IN THE RECENT BIENNIUM, THAT
NUMBER CREPT UP TO OVER 60,000.
UNFORTUNATELY, JUST LIKE THE
LABOR SHORTAGES HITTING
EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE STATE, IT'S
HITTING OUR AGENCY, TOO, AND
SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT, SO THAT'S WHY IN
OUR RECENT BUDGET, WE'RE
REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL 30FTE
TO ALLOW US BOTH TO COMMUNICATE
BETTER WITH APPLICANTS WHO HAVE
QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP MOVING
THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT ALSO,
THEN, TO PROCESS THINGS.
>> Frederica: SO THE AGENCY
WENT TO AN ONLINE LICENSE
APPLICATION PROCESS, I BELIEVE,
IT WAS JUST THIS PAST SPRING,
BUT THE PHARMACY SOCIETY TELLS
US THEY'VE GOT 200 APPLICATIONS
IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW SAYING
THE NEW SYSTEM DOES NOT SEEM TO
HAVE HELPED THE DELAYS.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I THINK AT THIS POINT
IN THE YEAR, THERE'S ALWAYS
GOING TO BE LICENSE HOLDERS IN
SOME -- OR PERSPECTIVE LICENSE
HOLDERS IN SOME STAGE OF THE
PROCESS.
LICENSING IS -- IS, AS YOU MAY
BE AWARE, NOT NECESSARILY A
VENDING MACHINE-TYPE PROCESS.
IT IS ITERATIVE AND INVOLVES
MULTIPLE STEPS DEPENDENT ON ONE
ANOTHER, AND SO WITH THE NEW
SYSTEM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE
NUMBERS BARE OUT WE'RE LICENSING
PEOPLE 40% FASTER, SO WE WENT
FROM A 76-DAY AVERAGE
HISTORICALLY DOWN TO NOW A
45-DAY AVERAGE IN 2022.
>> Frederica: IT'S FUNNY, THE
76-DAY AVERAGE OR THE 45-DAY
AVERAGE, I MEAN, WE HAD BEEN
HEARING REPORTS OF PEOPLE
WAITING MONTHS FOR THEIR
LICENSE.
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR THOSE THINGS
TOO, AND I FIND OFTENTIMES WHEN
PEOPLE COME TO ME WITH
PARTICULAR CONCERNS, AND I GET
E-MAILS DIRECTLY FROM APPLICANTS
ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE, THAT THE
REALITY IS OFTENTIMES IF WE WERE
WAITING MONTHS, THERE ARE A
VARIETY OF FACTORS THAT IMPACT
THAT, WHETHER IT'S TIME IT TAKES
TO MOVE THROUGH THE TESTING
PROCESS WITH NATIONAL EXAMS OR
IT'S TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GET
DOCUMENTATION TO THE DEPARTMENT,
OUR GOAL AT THE DEPARTMENT IS TO
MOVE THROUGH THE INCOMING
INFORMATION AS FAST AS
RESPONSIBLE, AND THE REALITY IS,
AS I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES, WE
NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF TO DO
THAT.
NOW, IN TERMS OF THOSE FOLKS,
THE OTHER PART OF THAT EQUATION
IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOME
FOLKS NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
TO MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS CLEAR TO
EVERYBODY WHAT THE STEPS ARE OR
WHAT MAY BE THE MISSING PIECE
FOR THEM, AND THAT'S WHY THE
COMMUNICATIONS ASPECT IS SO
CRITICAL.
WE HAVE, AND WE'VE ASKED FOR
STAFF IN THE PASS, WE HAVE SIX
FTE TO ANSWER ROUGHLY 5,000 TO
10,000 PHONE CALLS IN A GIVEN
WEEK.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT MATH DOES NOT
WORK.
WE REQUESTED STAFF TO DO JUST
THAT IN PAST BUDGETS AND WILL
REQUEST THAT STAFF AGAIN IN THE
NEXT BUDGET.
>> Frederica: SO IF
SHORT-STAFFED HOSPITALS CAN'T
PUT NURSES BACK TO WORK AND
PHARMACISTS CAN'T POTENTIALLY
FILL PRESCRIPTIONS IN A TIMELY
FASHION, OR THERAPISTS CAN'T
STOP THEIR NEW JOB BECAUSE THEY
ARE WAITING FOR THEIR LICENSE,
WHAT KIND OF BURDEN DOES THIS
CONTINUING KIND OF LICENSING LOG
JAM PUT ON THOSE WHO NEED CARE?
>> YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, IT'S
SOMETHING, AGAIN, AS I STATED
WHEN WE STARTED THE
CONVERSATION, THAT WE ALL TAKE
PERSONALLY.
SERVING THE CITIZENS OF
WISCONSIN IS A TOP PRIORITY, AND
THAT'S WHY WE MOVE QUICKLY TO
IMPLEMENT THE NEW LICENSEE,
WHICH AIDED US IN DROPPING
LICENSE TIMES SIGNIFICANTLY,
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO
TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER
TO ALLOW THE AGENCY TO SERVE THE
FOLKS IN THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE
SERVED.
>> Frederica: ALL RIGHT,
SECRETARY DESIGNE, DAN HERETH,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.
>> Frederica: GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS THIS WEEK CALLED FOR AN
OCTOBER 4 SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE, WHICH REPUBLICANS
HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY WILL
GAVEL IN AND IMMEDIATELY GAVEL
OUT OF.
THEY ARE TASKED TO TAKE UP
STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVES.
THE PROCESS ALLOWS WISCONSIN
CITIZENS TO CIRCUMVENT THE
LEGISLATURE AND USE THE BALLOT
BOX TO VOTE IN STATE LAW.
IN A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE
GOVERNOR SAID THIS WOULD ALLOW
WISCONSIN VOTERS TO DIRECTLY
TAKE UP ABORTION.
>> WISCONSIN'S CURRENT LAWS DO
NOT ALLOW VOTERS TO CHANGE STATE
LAW BY REFERENDUM, AND VOTERS
CANNOT INTRODUCE REFERENDA OR
INITIATIVES TO BE VOTED ON BY
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
I'LL BE CALLING ON THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE SPECIAL
SESSION TO TAKE UP THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT
WILL ENABLE THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN TO GO TO REFERENDUM
AND REPEAL OUR 1849 ERA CRIMINAL
ABORTION BAN TO ENSURE WOMEN
ACROSS OUR STATE WILL GO BACK TO
HAVING THE SAME RIGHTS NOW THAT
THEY DID THE DAY BEFORE THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V.
WADE.
>> Frederica: THIS WEEK, THE
STATE'S SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, JILL UNDERLY,
DELIVERED THE ANNUAL STATE OF
EDUCATION ADDRESS.
>> WE CAN FIND INCREDIBLE
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
LEARNING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
INTEGRATED IN OUR CLASSROOMS ALL
ACROSS WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THAT'S WONDERFUL AND
ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY STRENGTHENS THE
EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF OUR
STUDENTS.
WE ALSO NEED TO SUPPORT OUR
STUDENTS EVEN MORE WITH ACCESS
TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND
THAT NEED FROM COMMUNITY AND FOR
COMMUNITY AND FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE,
AND IT'S BECOME EVEN MORE
APPARENT AND IMPORTANT AS WE
MOVE THROUGH THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT CRITICS
WILL LATCH ON TO TEST SCORES
WHEN THERE'S SO MANY OTHER
NEEDS, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS
THAT WE SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE
IN A ONCE IN LIFETIME OR ONCE IN
A CENTURY PANDEMIC.
THE PAST FEW YEARS WERE
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
TO LEARN, BUT ALSO TO LIVE AND
TO THRIVE, AND THE TEST SCORES
SHOWED US EXACTLY WHAT WE KNEW
THEY WOULD.
THAT KIDS, FAMILY, ADULTS,
REALLY EVERYONE, WAS IMPACTED
DIFFERENTLY, AND OUR MOST
VULNERABLE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
WERE IMPACTED THE MOST.
COVID-19 HAS ASKED A LOT OF OUR
KIDS, AND IT'S ASKED A LOT OF
OUR EDUCATORS, AND I BELIEVE IN
THE RESILIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS
AND OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND I ALSO
WISH THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE
RESILIENT.
>> Frederica: THE CHAIR OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE WAS
QUICK TO CRITICIZE THE ADDRESS
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.
SENATOR ALBERTA DARLING, SAID
THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
FAILURE.
UNDER HER WATCH, TOO MANY
CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS ARE
FAILING.
THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, SHE SAID, THAT
LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF STUDENTS
ARE PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH OR
MATH.
SINCE 2020, THE PANDEMIC
ACADEMIC SLIDE IN SCHOOLS IS
WELL-DOCUMENTED.
ACCORDING TO THE NATION'S REPORT
CARD, K-12 SCHOOLS IN THE
MIDWEST SLIPPED THE MOST IN THE
COUNTRY WITH READING SCORES DOWN
7 POINTS AND MATH DOWN 9.
OVERALL, THE WORST SLIP IN 30
YEARS, BUT ACCORDING TO OUR NEXT
GUEST, IT MIGHT NOT BE JUST
VIRTUAL LEARNING TO BLAME.
AMERY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND
PRESIDENT OF THE WISCONSIN
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST ASSOCIATION,
KATIE JOHNSON, JOINS US, AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Frederica: WHAT ARE YOU
SAYING IN YOUR DISTRICT AND
STATEWIDE, REALLY, ABOUT HOW FAR
BEHIND STUDENTS ARE ACADEMICALLY
THIS SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS
PANDEMIC SLIDE?
>> WE ARE SEEING A BIG SLIDE
BACK BACKWARD, AND WE'RE NOT
ONLY SEEING THAT IT'S NOT JUST
PROPORTIONAL TO THE TIME KIDS
HAVE BEEN OFF SCHOOL, AND I
THINK THAT'S WHAT STANDS OUT TO
ME, BUT IT SEEMS BIGGER THAN
WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT GIVEN THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT KIDS
ACTUALLY MISSED SCHOOL, WHICH
LEAVES ME TO BELIEVE THERE'S
SOMETHING MORE TO IT THAN JUST
THAT TIME OFF OF SCHOOL THAN
MISSING INSTRUCTION.
>> Frederica: HOW SURPRISED
WERE YOU BY THE -- WHAT YOU'RE
DESCRIBING AS A MAJOR SLIP IN
ACADEMICS?
>> I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY
SURPRISED BY IT.
YOU KNOW, WE EXPECTED, IF WE
DIDN'T GIVE FACE-TO-FACE
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, THAT WILL
WOULD BE A SLIP, BUT WE DID NOT
EXPECT A LARGE SLIP, AND WE
DIDN'T EXPECT THE BEHAVIORAL
SLIP WE'VE SEEN AS WELL.
>> Frederica: YOU SAID THAT
THERE WERE OTHER THINGS AT PLAY,
AND ONE OF THOSE, I UNDERSTAND,
FROM YOU, IS THIS BEHAVIORAL
ISSUEMENT DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS
AND WHERE YOU ARE SEEING IT.
>> WE SEE IT ALL THE WAY K-12,
PREK-12, AND WE ARE SEEING KIDS
JUST NOT ADJUSTED TO CLASSROOMS.
THEY DON'T KNOW BASIC RULES, YOU
KNOW, HOW TO SIT STILL, HOW TO
MAINTAIN ATTENTION.
I THINK BEING HOME WAS VERY
DIFFERENT IN A DIFFERENT
ENVIRONMENT, SO -- AND YOU
TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE SEE IT
COMING FROM IS IT'S MORE THAN
NOT JUST BEING ON SCHOOL, BUT
STRESS ON FAMILIES AND IMPACT
THAT THE PANDEMIC HAD ON HOMES
AND FAMILIES AND PEOPLE'S
OCCUPATIONS AND WE'RE SEEING
THAT ALL CULMINATE IN KIDS'
ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL SUCCESS
IN SCHOOL.
>> Frederica: IF BEHAVIOR AND
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE
WORSE, HOW EQUIPPED ARE SCHOOLS
TO HELP?
>> SCHOOLS ARE VERY WELL
EQUIPPED TO HELP WITH MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS IN SCHOOLS,
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS,
COUNSELORS, AND NURSES, AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN
SCHOOLS TO HELP, BUT I DO THINK
IT IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN JUST
SCHOOLS.
I THINK WE NEED TO WORK AS
COMMUNITIES AND STATEWIDE TO
REALLY SUPPORT KIDS TO KIND OF
GET BACK TO A MORE TYPICAL WAY
OF FUNCTIONING.
>> Frederica: DO YOU FEEL AS
THOUGH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND
EVEN FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THE
EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM THAT
SCHOOLS ARE SEEING IN THEIR
STUDENTS?
>> I DON'T THINK THEY DO.
I THINK THEY EXPECT THAT NOW
THAT WE'RE BACK IN FACE-TO-FACE
SCHOOL, THE TIMES ARE BACK TO
NORMAL, AND THEY ARE NOT
UNDERSTANDING THERE'S REAL LARGE
SYSTEMS DIFFERENCES IN OUR
SCHOOLS NOW.
>> Frederica: HOW IMPORTANT
ARE HAPPY LEARNERS TO THEIR
ACADEMIC SUCCESS?
>> WELL, WE KNOW WE DON'T LEARN
VERY WELL UNLESS OUR BASIC NEEDS
ARE MET AND WE ARE COMFORTABLE,
AND SO FOR KIDS TO BE REALLY
CALM AND CONFIDENT AND FEELING
GOOD ABOUT COMING INTO THE
SCHOOL DAY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE NEEDS WE
NEED TO MEET BEFORE MEETING
ACADEMIC NEEDS.
>> Frederica: SO WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN IN THE CLASSROOM FOR
TEACHERS, EVEN, OUTSIDE THE
NURSE'S OFFICE?
HOW ARE TEACHERS KIND OF
ADDRESSING THIS AND CARING FOR
THAT FIRST BEFORE THEY EVEN OPEN
A BOOK?
>> I THINK THEY ARE DEFINITELY
DOING MORE THINGS TO HELP KIDS
ADJUST TO THE CLASSROOM TO HELP
KIDS FEEL SAFE, TO MAKE SURE
KIDS' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET THERE,
AND THEY ARE CARING FOR THE
WHOLE STUDENT AND NOT JUST
TEACHING TO THEIR ACADEMIC
NEEDS.
>> Frederica: IN YOUR MIND,
CAN THESE STUDENTS THAT HAVE
WEATHERED THIS RECOVER FROM IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK KIDS WILL
RECOVER.
KIDS ARE RESILIENT.
THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME.
EDUCATION CHANGES.
SOCIETY CHANGES.
THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS, BUT I DO
THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE DOING THE
BEST WE CAN TO SUPPORT KIDS, YOU
KNOW, AND TO POURING INTO MENTAL
HEALTH PROGRAMS IN OUR SCHOOLS,
TO POURING INTO THE BEFORE AND
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ANYTHING
THAT SUPPORTS KIDS SO THAT THEY
HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF BOUNCING
BACK AND GETTING BACK TO
WHATEVER A NEW NORMAL IS.
>> Frederica: DO YOU HAVE
ANTICIPATION THAT THAT KIND
OF -- THOSE KINDS OF RESOURCES
OR SUPPORT WILL BE FORTHCOMING
TO THE SCHOOLS ACROSS WISCONSIN?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN RESOURCES WE
ARE ACCESSING TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE
TO DO THAT.
THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SCHOOL
PSYCHOLOGISTS AMONG THEM, SO WE
DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP POURING
INTO THAT AND CREATING MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO GET
THOSE NEEDED SERVICES.
>> Frederica: ALL RIGHT.
KATIE JOHNSON FROM AMERY, WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Frederica: THIS IS A
SPECIAL WEEK FOR THOSE LIVING IN
THE BAYVIEW COMMUNITY OF
MADISON.
BY THE END OF THE MONTH, NEARLY
50 PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING IN NEW
APARTMENT MOMENTS AFTER YEARS OF
PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING.
"HERE & NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS
JOURNALISTMURV SEYMOUR DESCRIBES
HOW THIS AFFECTS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE.
>> ALL THE HOUSING ON THE
TRIANGLE LIKE BAYVIEW'S IS
LOW-INCOME HOUSING.
>> Reporter: ON THE SOUTH SIDE
--
>> 50 YEARS OLD.
>> Ron:>> Reporter: SITS A TINY
COMMUNITY REPRESENTING
DIVERSITY.
>> FOR 50 YEARS, A CENTER OF
QUIET PROMISE.
>> BAYVIEW HAS BEEN CULTURALLY
DIVERSE.
>> THIS IS AN AREA OF THE CITY
THAT USED TO BE ORIGINALLY TOW
TRUCK LANE, AND THEN IT BECAME
LATER ON LAND THAT WAS SETTLEED
BY WAVES OF IMMIGRANTS,
ALBANIAENS, JEWISH PEOPLE,
ITALIANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
>> MY PARENTS LIVED HERE BEFORE
I DID, MY NEIGHBOR'S PARENTS
DID, AND LANGUAGE IS A BARRIER,
BUT DOES NOT STOP RESIDENTS FROM
ENGAGING AND TALKING TO ONE
ANOTHER, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST
HAVING THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
>> BAYVIEW'S A PLACE I LOVE.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 18
YEARS.
>> Reporter: NINA AND JOHN ARE
LONG TIME BAYVIEW RESIDENTS.
BOTH SAY --
>> HERE, IT'S MORE THAN
TOWNHOMES, SIDE BY SIDE, MORE
THAN JUST BRICK BUILDINGS SIDE
BY SIDE, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS
EVERYBODY, THE PARENTS, THE
KIDS, THE GRANDCHILDREN.
>> WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
YOUR KIDS CAN GO OUT AND PLAY
WITHOUT YOU WORRYING OF ANYTHING
HAPPENING.
IT IS A PLACE THAT'S REALLY,
REALLY FREE, SAFE, AND IS SAFE
FOR FAMILIES.
>> WE HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF
PROVIDING HOUSING.
>> Reporter: THAT DIFFERENT
WAY ALSO PROVIDES --
>> JOB SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICE,
SOME HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION,
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BAYVIEW IS ONE
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES
AROUND.
>> WAIT FOR FIVE, SIX YEARS
WAITING TO GET ONE APARTMENT
THAT'S AFFORDABLE.
>> BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS CLOSE TO
THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
GET TO IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.
WE'RE LOCATED WITHIN A MILE OF
DOWNTOWN MADISON.
WE ARE ONLY BLOCKS AWAY FROM
CAMPUS.
WE ARE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE BAY.
HERE, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION, JOBS, REALLY
GOOD SCHOOLS, BANKS, HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES, ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT ALL OF US NEED.
>> Reporter: ALSO KNOWN AS THE
GREEN BUSH COMMUNITY AND
NOWADAYS THE TRIANGLE BECAUSE OF
THE UNIQUE SHAPE OF THE BLOCK
WHERE IT SITS, THE SENSE OF
DIVERSITY HERE DATES BACK MORE
THAN 50 YEARS WHEN THE TRIANGLE
BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE.
BACK THEN, WHEN CITY LEADERS
CHOSE TO REBUILD THE AREA, IT
WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT
ON THIS MAINLY MINORITY
COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK THAT HISTORY ON THE
TRIANGLE IS ONE THAT, YOU KNOW,
IS REALLY COMPLICATED.
>> IN THE 1960s, THAT
BLOSSOMING, FRUITFUL, IMMIGRANT
AREA WAS DEVASTATED BY URBAN
RENEWAL.
MONEY WAS AVAILABLE TO CITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO REMOVE
URBAN BLIGHT.
HOMES WERE BOUGHT OUT, SELL OR
BE CONDEMNED OUT SO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS TAKEN DOWN
WITHOUT REALLY CONSIDERING WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN TO THE RESIDENTS
WHO LIVED THERE.
PEOPLE WENT OUT TO SECURE
HOUSING, AND THERE WAS NOT MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE HAD.
THEY LIVED WITH RELATIVES.
THEY LIVED OUTDOORS.
SLEEPING IN WHAT'S NOW A PARK,
AND THEY LEFT THE COMMUNITY.
THEY TRIPLED UP AND RENTED
APARTMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THEY SURVIVED.
NOT WELL.
AND NOT, PERHAPS, FAIRLY.
A GROUP OF ADVOCATES WHO HAVE AT
TIMES SAID, YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE
DOWN ALL THIS HOUSING WHERE
THESE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE ARE
LIVING.
WHERE WILL THEY GO?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CITY OF
MADISON?
>> Reporter: IT IS 2021,
GROUNDBREAKING DAY ON A
$55 MILLION RENEWAL EFFORT TO
FUND ACCESSIBLE APARTMENTS, NEW
TOWNHOMES, AND EXPANDED ARTS AND
RECREATION CENTER.
BAYVIEW WILL BE ABLE TO HOUSE
500 PEOPLE, 200 MORE THAN IT
CURRENTLY HOUSES.
CONSTRUCTION CREWS HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR MORE THAN A
YEAR NOW, AND ALMOST READY FOR
PEOPLE TO MOVE IN, BUT UNLIKE
THE PAST, THIS MODERN DAY
REDEVELOPMENT IS BEING DONE IN A
PROCESS CALLED "DESIGN JUSTICE"
MEANING WORK DONE HERE AT
BAYVIEW IS DONE WITH THE VOICES
AND VISIONS OF THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE HERE AND NOT WITHOUT THEM.
>> I LIVED HERE FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
>> Reporter: JOHN TOOK PART IN
CEREMONIES THAT DAY, AND HE
COULDN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT THE
TRANSFORMATION OF THE PLACE HE
CALLS HOME.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS
REDEVELOPMENT, THESE BUILDINGS
ARE VERY, VERY OLD.
>> ACROSS THE STATE, PEOPLE ARE
JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND
THAT WHEN YOU REDEVELOP
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOUSING OF
ANY KIND, YOU REDEVELOP IT WITH
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, NOT
IN SPITE OF THEM, NOT WITHOUT
THEM.
FOR US, THAT MEANT HOLDING 25
COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN THREE
LANGUAGES.
WE'D SAY TO THE RESIDENTS, WHAT
ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT X?
THEY WOULD ANSWER IN THE
MEETING, 1, 2, AND 3, AND WE'D
SAY TO THE ARCHITECTS, DID YOU
HEAR THAT?
THEY SAID, 1, 2, 3, COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS FOR 1, 2, 3, AND GET
BACK TO US.
>> THERE WAS BOOKLETS OF COLORS,
WHAT DO YOU LIKE?
THIS ONE?
HOW DO YOU WANT THE ROOF LINES
TO BE?
>> MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO
HAVE A VOICE.
>> INSTEAD OF BASEMENTS, WE ARE
MAKING PEOPLE'S LIVING SPACES
LARGER, CREATING MORE STORAGE
ROOMS THAT ARE EITHER IN
INDIVIDUAL APARTMENT UNITS OR IN
COMMON AREAS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SHARED SORT
OF LIBRARY OF TOOLS OR EVENT
SUPPLIES THAT PEOPLE CAN USE AND
SHARE IN THE FUTURE.
THE ARTS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR
HISTORY AND OUR FUTURE.
WE ARE PLANNING TO DOUBLE THE
SIZE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SPACES THAT
ARE CLASSROOMS THAT SERVE
SPECIFIC AGE GROUPS, SO WE'LL
HAVE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, A
SPECIAL DEDICATED SPACE FOR
SENIORS AND ADULTS, FOR CAREER
DEVELOPMENT, FOR BUSINESS
PLANNING, AND WE'LL HAVE AN
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPACE THAT WILL
PROVIDE EARLY LEARNING
EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS PARENT
ENGAGEMENT CLASSES.
WITHOUT THIS KIND OF A MODEL OF
HOUSING, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
END UP COMPLETELY STRETCHED AND
TAXED AND BE PAYING MORE THAN
50% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT, SO
THEY WON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY
FOR CLOTHING, BOOKS, FOOD, ALL
OF THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
>> PEOPLE NEED PLACES TO CALL
THEIR OWN, AND A ROOF OVER THERE
HEAD TO CONCENTRATE ON SIMPLE
THINGS LIKE WORK.
DAY CARE.
HEALTH.
>> WE ARE COMFORTABLE IN A PLACE
THAT'S CUTE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
HAPPY.
>> Reporter: WITHOUT BAYVIEW,
THEY ARE NOT SURE WHERE THEY'D
CALL HOME.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE
LIVING.
AS A FOREIGNER, I PROBABLY WOULD
BE STRANDED AND HOMELESS.
>> THAT IS A MODEL OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT, THAT THE ENTIRE
STATE WOULD BENEFIT FROM, AND IT
COULD HAPPEN WITH ALL DIFFERENT
TYPES OF COMMUNITIES.
I THINK IT IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT THAT IT HAPPENS IN
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE
TYPICALLY THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE AS MUCH POWER, WHO ARE LEFT
OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.
>> Reporter: A CONVERSATION
HELPING TO CREATE STRONGER
HOUSING, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY.
REPORTING FOR "HERE & NOW," I'M
MURV SEYMOUR.
>> Frederica: THE NEXT PHASE
OF CONSTRUCTING MORE HOMES AND
TOWNHOMES BEGINS NEXT MONTH.
THE BAYVIEW FOUNDATION IS
LOOKING TO RAISE $1.4 MILLION TO
COMPLETE THE ENTIRE
REDEVELOPMENT BY THE FALL OF
2024.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR A LOOK AT
THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR U.S.
SENATE.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
? ?
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR
"HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.