KEN
TELECABALIST
UW-RICHLAND
JOY
LINDA GENT
>> THE HISTORICALLY VERY
TROUBLED LINCOLN HILLS JUVENILE
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN COMES INTO
ANOTHER CALENDAR FACING
UNDERSTAFFING AS MILWAUKEE MOVES
ALONG WITH TRYING TO LOCATE A
NEW FACILITY ON THE CITY'S
NORTHWEST SIDE.
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.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THIS WEEK THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE PLAN COMMISSION
APPROVED REZONING THE LOCATION
EYED FOR THE NEW FACILITY.
>> 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 UNPRECEDENTED
SURPLUS.
>> HE SAYS REPUBLICANS 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 COMPROMISE 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 THE
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 STARTS
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 INVITING 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 THE 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 IMPORTANT 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.
ALYSSA
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 RATHER 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 COMMUNITY 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, OUR 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 GOVERNANCE 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.