úARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, A.I.
IS PRETTY SIMPLE IN THIS REGARD.
IT BUILDS ITS CAPABILITIES OFF
OF LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS, AND SO
WHEN INDIVIDUALS' PERSONAL DATA
BECOMES A PART OF THAT TRAINING
MATERIAL, THAT CAN MAY BE
UNNERVING AND/OR NOT WHAT THEY
WOULD HAVE WANTED, SO IN THIS
ERA OF INNOVATION, WHICH IS
GREAT FOR A LOT OF REASONS, I
THINK THE PROTECTION, THE
INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO PROTECTION
OF THEIR DATA HAS NEVER BEFORE
BEEN AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS RIGHT
NOW.
>> WHAT DOES THE DATA PRIVACY
ACT CALL FOR?
>> THE BILL ESSENTIALLY HAS
THREE COMPONENTS AND A MOMENT
AGO, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THE
FACT THAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE
THIS AND, IN FACT OTHER
CONTINENTS.
EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2018,
INCORPORATED WHAT'S CALLED GDPR.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
PLAGUED BY LOCK-DOWNS, A LOCAL
OFFICIAL RENEWS CALLS TO SHUTTER
THE GREEN BAY CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTION, AND PRIVACY
ADVOCATES WANT TO PROTECT
CONSUMERS FROM COMPANIES BUYING
AND SELLING PRIVATE DATA FROM
CELL PHONES.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
ALLOUEZ VILLAGE PRESIDENT ON WHY
IT'S TIME TO CLOSE THE GREEN BAY
PRISON IN HIS COMMUNITY.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE
SHANNON ZIMMERMAN ON THE
REALITIES OF OUR LACK OF DATA
PRIVACY COMING FROM OUR CELL
PHONES.
A LITERACY SPECIALIST SHARES THE
LATEST ON OVERHAULING THE
STATE'S EARLY READING
CURRICULUM.
AND GROWING FOOD INSECURITY
ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 8.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> SHUT IT DOWN.
THAT'S WHAT THE VILLAGE OF
ALLOUEZ IS SAYING ABOUT THE
MAXIMUM SECURITY GREEN BAY GREEN BAY
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.
THE MORE THAN 100-YEAR OLD
PRISON IS MORE THAN 200 INMATES
OVER CAPACITY AND HAD BEEN ON
EXTENDED LOCKDOWN DUE TO STAFF
SHORTAGES.
THE CRUMBLING CONDITION OF THE
FACILITY IS DESCRIBED AS
DEPLORABLE.
VILLAGE PRESIDENT, JIM RAFTER,
SAYS THE TIME IS NOW WITH THE
SEARCH ON FOR A NEW CORRECTIONS
SECRETARY, TO DEAL WITH THE
CLOSURE.
HE SAYS, QUOTE, ANYTHING SHORT
OF THAT STEP WOULD BE NOTHING
MORE THAN REARRANGING THE DECK
CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC.
HE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
FREDERICA.
>> SO WHY CLOSE THE PRISON
ALTOGETHER RATHER THAN FIX IT?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S 125 YEARS OLD
AND IN -- THERE HAVE BEEN TWO
STUDIES IN THE CORRECTIONS
SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY GBCI.
IN 2009, A STUDY WENT THROUGH
THE FACILITY AND RECOMMENDED ITS
CLOSURE BECAUSE IT NEEDED
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN UPGRADES JUST TO GET UP TO
CODE.
IT'S SURELY NOT DESIGNED BY
TODAY'S STANDARDS FOR PRISON TO
HELP WITH REFORM AND TO PROVIDE
THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS NEEDED
TO HELP THESE FOLKS GET BACK
ONTO THE STREET.
IN 2018, THE STATE COMMISSIONED
ANOTHER STUDY AND THAT WAS BY
BWBR.
IT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2020.
IT SAID THE EXACT SAME THING
EXCEPT THERE WAS A LOT MORE
MONEY NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE
DOLLARS.
>> SO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU KNOW
CONDITIONS TO BE LIKE INSIDE
BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS
PRISON IT AND ITS AGE.
>> WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN -- WELL, WITH THE DESIGN,
TODAY, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
SUNLIGHT.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO
LIVE IN PODS WHERE THE -- THOSE
WHO ARE INCARCERATED CAN GET TO
THE OUTSIDE TO GET TO SCHOOL,
GET TO THE LIBRARY, AND LIVE
MORE IN A COMMUNAL ENVIRONMENT
VERSUS A CELL.
THE CELLS, THE PRISON WAS
DESIGNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 750
INMATES AND TODAY IT HOUSES
ALMOST A THOUSAND.
THEY ARE IN CELLS THAT WERE
DESIGNED FOR ONE PERSON BUT NOW
THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN THEM,
AND THE CELLS, YOU CAN REACH
ACROSS AND LAY DOWN AND TOUCH
ALL THE WALLS.
SO IT'S NOT DESIGNED FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.
IT IS DARK AND DINGY.
IT HAS MICE INFESTATIONS, WHICH
THE STATE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH
FOR OVER A YEAR.
THE ATTITUDE OR THE ANXIETY
LEVEL WITHIN THE FACILITY DUE TO
BEING ON LOCKDOWN, AS YOU
MENTIONED, SINCE JUNE OF 2023,
IT'S CREATING AN AWFUL LOT OF
ANXIETY AND A LOT OF I'LL SAY
VIOLENCE.
IN 2023, THE NUMBER OF
INVESTIGATIONS FOR VIOLENT
OFFENSES THAT TAKE PLACE IN GBCI
EQUAL THAT -- ALMOST EQUAL THAT
OF 2021 AND 2022 COMBINED AND
THEY'RE ON LOCKDOWN FOR HALF THE
YEAR.
>> SO --
>> SO -- SORRY.
>> HAVEDO YOU BELIEVE CALLS FOR
CLOSURE HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF
EARS?
>> NO.
WE HAVE GAINED BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FROM STATE LEGISLATORS,
COUNTY-ELECED LEADERS, LOCAL
MUNICIPALITY LEADERS ACROSS
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE SAY NO,
THEY DON'T WANT TO CLOSE IT.
THE CHALLENGES AGREEING ON WHAT
TO DO AFTER THEY CLOSE IT.
>> RIGHT, BECAUSE WHERE WOULD
THOSE INMATES GO FROM GREEN BAY,
OTHER MAX SECURITY PRISONS
THEMSELVES ARE OVER CAPACITY AND
HAVE THEIR OWN SAFETY ISSUES.
>> RIGHT.
THE OPTIONS THAT I'VE HEARD, I
KNOW THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO
REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION AND
HOPEFULLY MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF
PLACES LIKE GBCI AND INTO OTHER
FACILITIES.
THAT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLING
TO HAVE A NEW PRISON, A
REPLACEMENT PRISON MOST LIKELY
FOR GBCI TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THE
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS NEEDED BY
THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED.
I'VE BEEN INSIDE FOUR TIMES OVER
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
I'VE BEEN IN WITHOUT THE
GOVERNOR AND I'VE TOURED IT WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY CARR
AND WHEN I GO IN THERE, YOU
REALLY DON'T SEE A LOT OF
PROGRAMS GOING ON BECAUSE THEY
JUST DON'T DO THE PROGRAMMING
VERY MUCH ANYMORE.
PEOPLE CAN'T GET EDUCATION, THEY
CAN'T GET HEALTH SERVICES, BUT
WHEN THE GOVERNOR COMES IN,
PEOPLE ARE LINED UP IN THE
CORRIDORS WELCOMING HIM AND
SHAKING HIS HAND, AND WHEN I
TOURED IT WITH HIM, HE ASKED
WHERE IN THE PSYCH WARD AREA AND
HE ASKED HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AND THE
ANSWER WAS ABOUT 60%, SO THAT'S
ABOUT 600 PEOPLE, AND HE SAID
HOW MANY BEDS DO WE HAVE, AND
THEY SAID 13.
HE SAID WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE
OTHERS?
THEY SLUGGED THEIR SHOULDERS.
THEY DO WHAT THEY CAN, BUT
BASICALLY THE METAL NEEDS ACROSS
OUR CORRECTIONS SYSTEM, I'VE
LEARNED A LOT OVER THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS ABOUT THIS, IT'S
TREMENDOUS.
YOU BASICALLY HAVE THREE
POPULATIONS: THOSE WHO ARE
MENTALLY ILL AND NEED HELP,
THOSE WHO HAVE MADE TERRIBLE
MISTAKES IN LIFE AND WILL NOT
REFORM, AND THEN YOU HAVE A
GROUP OF THOSE WHO HAVE MADE
TERRIBLE MISTAKES BUT ARE
WILLING, ABLE AND INTERESTED IN
LEARNING HOW TO COME BACK INTO
SOCIETY SAFELY, AND WE NEED TO
HAVE THE PROGRAMS IN OUR STATE
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE DON'T TODAY.
>> JIM RAFTER FROM ALLOUEZ,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LOCATION TRACKING ON CELL
PHONES MEANS YOUR EVERYDAY
MOVEMENTS ARE NOT YOUR OWN.
TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, AN
INVESTIGATION THAT FOUND THAT A
NONPROFIT FOUNDED BY WISCONSIN
RIGHT TO LIFE AIMED TARGETED ADS
TO PEOPLE WHO VISITED ABORTION
PROVIDERS, INCLUDING 14 MILLION
SUCH ADS IN WISCONSIN.
DATA PRIVACY LAWS ARE BEING
PASSED IN STATES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND IN EUROPE.
HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE STATE
ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE
DATA PRIVACY ACT.
IT AWAITS SENATE ACTION.
ITS AUTHOR, REPRESENTATIVE
SHANNON ZIMMERMAN OF RIVER FALLS
JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
>> SO HOW URGENTLY DO YOU WANT
THE SENATE TO TAKE THIS UP IS
THIS.
>> AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I VIEW THIS AS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT BILLS.
I COME FROM THE TECHNOLOGY
SECTOR.
I'VE SPENT MY 25-YEAR CAREER IN
TECH, AND THE POSITION I'VE
TAKEN WITH MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT
WE'VE NEVER BEFORE LIVED IN A
TIME OF INNOVATION LIKE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW.
MOST OF THE WORLD IS JUST
AWAKENING TO THIS THING CALLED
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
A.I. IS PRETTY SIMPLE IN THIS
REGARD.
IT BUILDS ITS CAPABILITIES OFF
OF WHAT'S CALLED LARGE LANGUAGE
MODELS.
LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS ARE DATA.
AND SO WHEN INDIVIDUALS'
PERSONAL DATA BECOMES A PART OF
THAT TRAINING MATERIAL, THAT CAN
MAY BE UNNERVING AND/OR NOT WHAT
THEY WOULD HAVE WANTED.
SO IN THIS ERA OF INNOVATION,
WHICH IS GREAT FOR A LOT OF
REASONS, I THINK THE PROTECTION,
THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO
PROTECTION OF THEIR DATA HAS
NEVER BEFORE BEEN AS IMPORTANT
AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT DOES THE DATA PRIVACY
ACT CALL FOR?
>> THE BILL ESSENTIALLY HAS
THREE COMPONENTS, AND A MOMENT
AGO, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THE
FACT THAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE
THIS AND, IN FACT OTHER
CONTINENTS.
EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2018,
KRAILTD GLOBAL DATA PROTECTION
REGULATION, AND GDPR IS A VERY
ROBUST SET OF REGULATIONS
FOCUSED ON PRIVACY,
CYBERSECURITY, ET CETERA.
THIS BILL IS A SMALL SUBSET OF
THAT.
RATHER THAN TRY AND BOIL THE
OCEAN AND GET NOTHING DONE,
LET'S BE SPECIFIC WITH MY
THOUGHT AND FOCUS ON THREE
THINGS: NUMBER ONE, INDIVIDUALS
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WOULD
HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY TO ANY
DATA COLLECTOR, WHAT DO YOU HAVE
ON ME?
NUMBER TWO, TO WHOM HAVE YOU
SHARED OR SOLD THAT INFORMATION?
AND THIRD AND FINALLY, YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT TO SAY NO.
DELETE IT, PLEASE REMOVE IT, I'M
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN PILLARS
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
>> DESCRIBE WHAT KIND OF
PERSONAL DATA IS BEING CAPTURED
AND HOW.
>> WE HAVE IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM,
INFORMATION THAT WE WILLINGLY
PROVIDE TO COLLECTORS FOR
LOYALTY PROGRAMS.
RIGHT?
THIS COULD BE YOUR QUIK TRIP
REWARDS CARD, WHICH IS GREAT.
I SPEND, I BUY THESE PRODUCTS
AND I GET SOME CARIBOU COFFEE.
PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE GET TOO WORKED UP ABOUT.
BUT YOU ARE MANY TIMES BEING
TRACKED, LISTENED TO,
INFORMATION IS BEING COLLECTED
ON YOU THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
AWARE OF AND LITERALLY THIS
COULD SPAN ANY FORM OF DIGITAL
DATA THAT WOULD EXIST ON YOU.
YOU MENTIONED GEOLOCATION DATA
AT THE START OF THIS SEGMENT.
THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF DATA THAT
CAN BE COLLECTED ON INDIVIDUALS.
AND SO MY THINKING HERE IS THAT
MANY CASES, A PERSON WILLINGLY
MAKES THAT EXCHANGE.
THEY SAY, "YES, I'M OKAY WITH
YOU TRACKING THAT BECAUSE MAYBE
I GET A DISCOUNT REWARD AT QUICK QUIK
TRIP.
"IN OTHER SITUATIONS, ABSOLUTELY
NOT, I DON'T WANT THAT SENSITIVE
PERSONAL INFORMATION.
CAN YOU IMAGINE, AND I'M NOT
USING ALEXA AS A SPECIFIC
EXAMPLE OF THIS, BUT THAT TYPE
OF DEVICE.
PEOPLE HAVE DEVICES IN THEIR
HOMES THAT ARE LISTENING ALL THE
TIME AND INFORMATION,
CONVERSATION THAT ARE SHARED IN
THE PRIVACY OF YOUR LIVING ROOM
OR AT YOUR KITCHEN TABLE, I
THINK THERE'S AN EXPECTATION OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT THAT, IN FACT
IS PRIVATE BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T
WANT SOMEBODY TO JUST WALK INTO
OUR HOME, SIT THERE AND LISTEN
AND THEN USE THAT INFORMATION,
SO IT REALLY IS A BROAD, BROAD
ARRAY OF DATA.
>> DO YOU EXPECT THE SENATE TO
TAKE THIS UP AND PASS IT?
>> I AM IMPLORING THE SENATE TO
PLEASE TAKE THIS UP AND PASS IT
AT THIS TIME.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GROUPS
THAT ARE WORKING REALLY, REALLY
HARD TO MAKE SURE THIS BILL
DOESN'T GET TO THE SENATE FLOOR.
I AM SUPER HOPEFUL THAT THE
SENATE DOES WHAT'S RIGHT HERE
FOR WISCONSIN RESIDENTS AND
PUSHES THIS THING ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE.
>> AND THOSE GROUPS ARE BUSINESS
GROUPS INCLUDING WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS AND COMMERCE.
WHAT ARE THEIR OBJECTIONS?
>> SO WMC, AND I HAVE A HIGH
DEGREE OF RESPECT, I'VE WORKED A
LOT WITH WMC IN THE PAST, AND
THEY DO A GREAT JOB FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, LARGE BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, BUT INITIALLY THEY
HAD ONE PRIMARY ARGUMENT, WHICH
WAS HEY, SHANNON, THIS REALLY
SHOULD BE TAKEN UP AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
WHAT THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T
NEED IS A TAPESTRY OF DIFFERENT
LEGISLATION SIMILAR BUT NOT
EXACTLY THE SAME.
IT SHOULD BE TAKEN UP AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
I AGREE.
A 100% AGREE WITH WMC ON THIS.
THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SEEMS NEARLY INCAPABLE OF DOING
ANYTHING THESE DAYS, GETTING
ANYTHING DONE.
THE SECOND ARGUMENT THAT THEY
MAKE IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE
BURDENSOME AND COSTLY.
YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE OVER
10 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT HAVE PASSED THIS, THE
ENTIRE EUROPEAN UNION HAS
IMPLEMENTED THIS SINCE 2018, ARE
PEOPLE CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN
THOSE AREAS?
ABSOLUTELY, THEY ARE.
SO I THINK THAT THE PROTECTION
AND THE BENEFIT FROM THE
PROTECTION FAR OUTWEIGHS THOSE
EXAGGERATED ARGUMENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE SHANNON
ZIMMERMAN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HOT OFF THE PRESSES, A LIST
OF TEXTBOOKS AND LEARN-TO-READ
MATERIALS FOR WISCONSIN SCHOOLS
HAS BEEN RELEASED.
AWAITING APPROVAL BY THE
LEGISLATURE, WHICH COULD COME
MONDAY.
THIS LIST COMES AS A RESULT OF A
NEW BIPARTISAN LAW CALLED ACT
20, WHICH MANITATES SCIENCE,
READING AND PHONICS INSTRUCTION
INSTEAD OF BALANCED LITERACY,
WHICH INCLUDES SOMETHING CALLED
THREE-CUEING, NOW EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED.
STATEWIDE TESTING IN THE THIRD
THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE SHOW JUST
UNDER 40% OF STUDENTS ARE
PROFICIENT IN READING, MUCH
LOWER THAN THAT IN GREEN FAIRWAY
AND MILWAUKEE.
IN EFFORTS TO BOOST SKILLS ALONG
WITH-APPROVED LESSON PLANS, THE
NEW LAW REQUIRES ENHANCED
TESTING, LITERACY COACHES, AND
INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS AT
RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO READ.
IT COMES WITH $50 MILLION IN
GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS TO PURCHASE,
APPROVE CURRICULUM AND OTHER
COSTS.
A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL TASKED
WITH CHOOSING THE-APPROVED
CURRICULUM JOINS US TO DESCRIBE
MORE ABOUT CHANGES COMING TO
WISCONSIN CLASSROOMS.
AMY McGOVERN IS ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF CONTINUOUS SCHOOL
IMPROVEMENT AND LITERACY READING
SPECIALIST FOR 22 DISTRICTS IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
SHE JOINS US NOW.
AMY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WE MENTIONED SOMETHING
CALLED THE THREE-CUEING METHOD
OF READING INSTRUCTION, WHICH IS
NOW OUTLAWED.
IT INCLUDES USING PICTURES, I
UNDERSTAND, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HELP
STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
WORDS ARE SAYING INSTEAD OF THE
USE OF PHONICS OR SOUNDING OUT
WORDS.
I GUESS THREE-CUEING HAS FAILED
OUR STUDENTS?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT
THREE-CUEING REALLY, YOU
MENTIONED THAT 40% OF THE
STUDENTS ARE PROFICIENT IN
WISCONSIN, AND THAT'S ABOUT THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO
THREE-CUEING IS REALLY DESIGNED
TO WORK WELL FOR, THE KIDS WHO
ARE NOT HARD WIRED TO HAVE A
HARD TIME LEARNING TO READ, SO I
WOULD ARGUE THERE'S PROBABLY A
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE TWO
THINGS.
WHEN WE OVEREMPHASIZE USING
LOOKING AT THE PICTURE OR TAKING
OUR EYES OFF THE WORD, STUDENTS
ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE ABLE --
THEY'RE SLOWING DOWN THEIR
ABILITY TO LEARN TO READ.
SO THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF THEIR
PROGRESS AND THEN ONCE THEY GET
PAST THIRD GRADE AND THEY'RE NOT
READING WELL, IT'S HARDER TO
CLOSE THE GAP, IT TAKES LONGER.
>> SO YOU WERE AMONG THE PANEL
OF EDUCATORS WHO CHOSE THE LIST
OF 11 EARLIER INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS THAT SCHOOLS CAN SOON
USE.
WILL THIS BE A NEW WAY OF
TEACHING CHILDREN TO READ FOR
TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE?
>> WELL, THE ABSENCE OF
THREE-CUEING WILL BE DEFINITELY
MAKE AN IMPACT FOR A LOT OF
STUDENTS AND THE CURRICULUM
RESOURCES ARE DESIGNED TO -- THE
ONES THAT COUNCIL SELECTED
REALLY MET A HIGH BAR OF QUALITY
AND NO RESOURCE IS GOING TO BE
PERFECT, OF COURSE, AND SO ALL
THOSE OTHER THINGS YOU FACTORED
IN WITH TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP
SUPPORT ALL MATTER, BUT THE
ACTUAL DESIGN OF THE CURRICULUM
THAT WE SELECTED IS FAR MORE
LIKELY TO PRODUCE READERS THAN
SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT WEREN'T
SELECTED OUT BY THE COUNCIL.
>> SO YOU SPOKE TO ALL THOSE
OTHER MEASURES, INCLUDING
THE-APPROVED TEACHING METHODS,
MORE TESTING, LITERACY COACHING,
TRAINING.
CAN SCHOOLS HANDLE THIS LOAD,
THOUGH?
DO TEACHERS HAVE TIME FOR ALL OF
THIS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S NOT ON THE
TEACHERS' PLATE TO DETERMINE HOW
THE TIME IS USED, IT'S ON THE
ADMINISTRATOR'S PLATE BECAUSE
THEY NEED TO BALANCE THAT FOR
THE TEACHERS AND THERE IS
ACTUALLY PART OF ACT 20 IS
LEADERSHIP WITH LITERACY
TRAINING TO HELP THEM SET UP A
SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THIS
ROLL-OUT.
SO IF IT'S DONE WELL, YES, BUT
THERE HAS TO BE SUPPORT FROM
THOSE ADMINISTRATORS.
IT'S PROTECTING THE TEACHERS,
REALLY.
>> SO WE MENTIONED THAT THE BILL
CALLS FOR $50 MILLION IN GRANTS
FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
HOW FAR WILL THAT GO?
>> NOT FAR ENOUGH.
SOME OF THAT MONEY IS BEING USED
FOR THE DIRECTOR AND FOR THE
COACHES AND NOW I UNDERSTAND
SOME OF IT'S BEEN SET ASIDE FOR
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR
TEACHERS.
SO THAT LEAVES A SMALL AMOUNT
THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR THE
CURRICULAR RESOURCES.
BUT SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN
NOTHING AND WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS
WILL LEAD US.
IT'S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY HOW FAR
IT WILL GO.
PROBABLY NOT FAR ENOUGH.
>> IN THE SCHOOLS -- IN THE
DISTRICTS THAT YOU WORK WITH,
WHAT ARE THEIR REACTIONS TO THIS
CHANGE?
>> I THINK THERE'S SOME ANXIETY
ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS THAT I WORK
WITH ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
SHIFT.
THEY RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR
CHANGE AND THOSE THAT MIGHT
STILL BE HOLDING ON TO PAST
PRACTICES OR REALIZING THAT THEY
MIGHT NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES
TO MAKE PROGRESS.
BUT THERE IS ANXIETY ABOUT THE
TIMELINE BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED
TO START NEXT FALL AND THERE IS
A BILL THAT MIGHT DELAY THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT 20 UNTIL
THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, WHICH
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR DISTRICTS
TO GET THEIR FEET UNDER THEM
WITH THE TRAINING THAT'S
REQUIRED.
>> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR
TEACHERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN
READING AND TEACHING CHILDREN TO
READ TO SEE THOSE KINDS OF TEST
SCORE NUMBERS?
>> WELL, I MEAN, THE TEACHERS
POUR THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO
HELPING THEIR CHILDREN LEARN TO
READ, THEIR STUDENTS LEARN TO
READ, SO IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING
WHEN YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING
YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT TO DO AND
IT'S NOT WORKING.
PART OF ACT 20 ALSO ADDRESS HOW
UNIVERSITIES ADDRESS THE
TEACHING OF TEACHERS SO THAT WE
CAN SEND THEM INTO THE FIELD
WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE
INFORMATION.
>> WHAT SHOULD PARENTS AND
STUDENTS EXPECT IN THE CLASSROOM
WHEN ALL THE PROVISION OF THE
NEW READING LAW ARE ROLLED OUT?
>> WELL, PARENTS SHOULD EXPECT
TO BE NOTIFIED MUCH MORE QUICKLY
IF THEIR STUDENTS ARE
STRUGGLING, BECAUSE PART OF ACT
20 REQUIRES A READING READINESS
PLAN TO BE COMMUNICATED WITH
PARENTS FOR ANY STUDENT THAT
FALLS BELOW THE 20th
PERCENTILE.
THAT NEW TEST THAT'S COMING DOWN
THE PIKE.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT PARENTS
WILL HAVE GREATER COMMUNICATION
WITH THEIR SCHOOL RIGHT FROM THE
START.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
AMY McGOVERN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN ECONOMIC NEWS, BEING
HUNGRY AND NOT KNOWING WHERE
YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM IS
THE DEFINITION OF FOOD
INSECURITY.
ACROSS WISCONSIN, FOOD PANTRIES
ARE SEEING A MAJOR UPTICK IN
DEMAND OVER THE PAST YEAR.
IN SOME COUNTIES, TRIPLE DIGIT
INCREASES, AND IT TURNS OUT
COLLEGE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE FOOD
INSECURITY AT HIGHER RATES THAN
THE GENERAL POPULATION, WITH
ESTIMATES PUTTING STUDENTS
BETWEEN 33 TO 51% FOOD INSECURE
COMPARED TO ALL U.S. ADULTS AT
9.8%.
AT NORTHWOOD TECHNICAL COLLEGE
IN RICE LAKE, STUDENTS ARE
EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AND
NOW SOME HELP.
WE TURN TO THE COLLEGE'S
PRESIDENT, JOHN WILL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> WHAT DO YOU SEE ON YOUR
CAMPUSES IN TERMS OF FOOD
INSECURITY?
>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME DATA
FROM 2015, WE DID A STUDY WITH
THE HOPE LAB AND THEN A
FOLLOW-UP BIT OF RESEARCH THAT
SHOWED THAT ABOUT 45% OF OUR
STUDENTS WERE IDENTIFYING AN
ISSUE WITH FOOD INSECURITY AND
SO THAT'S THE DATA THAT WE'RE
RELYING ON AND THEN WE ALSO KNOW
THAT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT FOOD
INSECURITY IS A BARRIER TO
COMPLETION IN COLLEGE, AND SO WE
FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO TAKE SOME
ACTION.
ACTUALLY, IN ABOUT 2019, HAD ONE
OF OUR MANAGERS OF ENROLLMENT
SERVICES PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO
CREATE A FOOD PANTRY.
2019 WAS A PRETTY BUSY YEAR.
YOU MAY REMEMBER IN A LOT OF
THINGS STARTED TO HAPPEN IN
2019.
AND SO WE DIDN'T IMPLEMENT THAT
AT THAT TIME BUT RECENTLY WE
WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN
TO START A FOOD PANTRY AT OUR
RICE LAKE CAMPUS.
>> SO HOW HARD IS IT TO SEE THAT
FOOD INSECURITY AMONGST YOUR
STUDENTS?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT VERY HARD --
WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO --
THERE'S A LOT OF DATA POINTS
THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT.
WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS WHO
SELF-PELL GRANTS, WHICH IS THE
NEED PASSED FEDERAL GRANT
PROGRAM, AND SO WE KNOW WE HAVE
STUDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED.
SOME WHO ARE IN POVERTY.
WE ALSO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE
SUPPORTING FAMILIES, MANY OF
THEM WORK PART TIME AND CAN'T
WORK FULL TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE
GOING TO SCHOOL.
THEY MADE THAT REALLY IMPORTANT
DECISION TO TRY, THEY'RE TRYING
TO GO TO SCHOOL TO GET MORE
EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A BETTER
LIFE FOR THEM AND THEIR
FAMILIES, BUT IT'S A STRUGGLE
FINANCIALLY AND, OF COURSE, FOOD
IS ONE OF THE BASIC THINGS THAT
THEY NEED TO PURCHASE AND SO
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A
BARRIER TO THEM BEING
SUCCESSFUL, NOT ONLY FOR THEM,
BUT FOR THEIR FAMILY.
AND SO GIVEN OUR CONNECTION WITH
THEM, A FOOD PANTRY SEEMED LIKE
A GREAT WADE TO HELP THEM
OVERCOME THAT BARRIER.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF HELP DID YOU
GET TO RUN THAT FOOD PANTRY,
THEN?
>> THIS IS A REALLY GOOD STORY.
TECHNICAL COLLEGES HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING PRIVATE SUPPORT I
THINK IN LARGER NUMBERS IN THE
LAST -- I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT FOR
10 YEARS AND WE'VE SEEN MUCH
MORE WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE
PRIVATE SUPPORT.
AND IN OUR COLLEGE, WE RECEIVED
$100,000 ANONYMOUS DONATION,
STILL DO NOT KNOW WHO PROVIDED
THE FUNDING, AND THE ONLY
DIRECTIVE WAS TO DIRECT IT
TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
HELP OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO WE HAVE FOUR CAMPUSES AND
EACH OF THEM HAS A LEADERSHIP
TEAM.
THAT LEADERSHIP TEAM GOT
TOGETHER, IDENTIFIED THIS AS THE
PLACE WHERE THE ENDOWMENT THAT
THAT MONEY ESTABLISHED WOULD BE
THE MOST IMPACTFUL, AND SO THEY
USED IT AS SORT OF SEED MONEY TO
GET THE FOOD PANTRY GOING.
WE'RE CALLING IT BLAZES COVERED.
BLAZE IS OUR MASCOT AND THAT WAS
A GOOD WAY TO BRAND IT AND MAKE
IT INTO A POSITIVE THING FOR OUR
STUDENTS AND HAPPY TO SAY THAT
IT HAS SEEN A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, WHAT KIND
OF DEMAND ARE YOU SEEING FOR
THAT PANTRY?
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY TO
LOOK AT NUMBERS OR VOLUME, BUT
WE DEFINITELY SEE STUDENTS
ACCESSING IT AND I SHOULD
MENTION, IT'S LIKE A LOT OF FOOD
PANTRIES, IT'S STOCKED WITH
NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND
EVEN HYGIENE ITEMS FOR FOLKS,
BECAUSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
BASIC KIND OF NEEDS THAT PEOPLE
WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
FINANCIAL ISSUES SEE AND IT'S
ANONYMOUS.
YOU WALK IN AND CAN TAKE WHAT
YOU NEED AND THEN WALK OUT.
SO WE KNOW THERE'S ENOUGH
ACTIVITY AND NEED TO RESTOCK IT
PERIODICALLY, BUT WE'LL EVALUATE
THAT MORE TOWARDS THE END OF THE
ACADEMIC YEAR HERE.
>> YOU SAID YOUR BASELINE
STARTED IN KIND OF 2015 WHEN YOU
DID THAT RESEARCH ABOUT THE
NUMBERS OF STUDENTS WHO MIGHT BE
INSECURE.
IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT IT'S
GOTTEN WORSE NOW WITH THE COST
OF FOOD AND THE COST OF HOUSING?
>> I THINK THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT ANECDOTAL, BUT I DO THINK A
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING
WITH SOME OF THOSE BASIC -- SORT
OF THOSE COSTS THAT RELATE TO
NECESSITIES AND WE'VE SEEN THAT
INCREASE NBC.
IT'S REFLECTED IN A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE'VE SEEN MORE STUDENTS GOING
MORE PRIME.
THAT'S STARTING TO TURN AROUND
THIS YEAR, BUT ON THE HEELS OF
THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW A GREATER
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS GOING
PRIME AND THAT'S OFTEN SO THAT
THEY CAN HOLD DOWN MORE HOURS,
AND SO WE'RE STARTING TO SEE
THAT TURN AROUND A LITTLE BIT
NOW, BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY --
THAT'S DEFINITELY BEEN SOMETHING
THAT WE'VE NOTICED AND WANTED TO
TRY TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS AND
ALLEVIATE.
>> SO WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE
$100,000 GIFT, WAS IT EVER A
QUESTION BUT THAT HELPING
STUDENTS WHO ARE HUNGRY WAS THE
FIRST PRIORITY?
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
GREAT THINGS THAT WE CAN USE
FUNDING FOR, BUT THAT'S A PRETTY
BASIC NEED FOR EVERYBODY AND
MANAGING THE LOGISTICS OF A FOOD
PANTRY TAKES NOT ONLY INITIAL
SEED MONEY BUT A COMMITMENT FROM
OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES ON CAMPUS
AND SO ONCE WE WORKED THAT OUT,
I THINK THAT WAS A PRETTY EASY
DECISION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JOHN WILL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
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THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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