- GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER LATE THIS WEEK CALLED A SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP HIS SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN.
THE PLAN INCLUDES AN OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY WITHIN THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WHICH WOULD APPLY $100 MILLION WORTH
OF GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS TO MAKE SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS,
HIRE OFFICERS AND CONDUCT TRAINING.
THE PLAN WOULD REQUIRE MANDATORY REPORTING OF ANY THREATS OF
SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND ENSURE THAT LIVE VIDEO STREAMS OF SCHOOLS
CAN BE SHARED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AMONG OTHER PRONGS.
THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER CALLING FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION CAME ONE DAY
AFTER A NATIONWIDE WALK-OUT ON THE PART OF SCHOOL STUDENTS OVER
GUN VIOLENCE.
WISCONSIN STUDENTS JOINED THE NATIONAL "YOUTH EMPOWER" CALL
FOR GUN CONTROL ON WEDNESDAY.
WISCONSIN WAS REPRESENTED BY SCHOOLS FROM DOZENS OF CITIES
AND TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE, FROM MILWAUKEE TO ASHLAND,
IN WAUSAU AND LA CROSSE, IN GREEN BAY, EAU CLAIRE,
RHINELANDER AND VIROQUA, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER MARISA WOJCIK COVERED THE STORY AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
- GUN CONTROL NOW!
- ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, THOUSANDS OF MADISON STUDENTS
JOINED A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT GUN
CONTROL.
A TEAM OF TEENAGERS FROM THE CITY'S FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS
COORDINATED THE MADISON WALK-OUT.
THEY HEADED DOWN EAST WASHINGTON AVENUE AND ENDED AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
DESPITE THE HEALTHY RIVALRY BETWEEN THESE SCHOOLS,
THE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT GUNS BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.
- WE ARE THE GENERATION TO PUT--
TO START PUTTING AN END TO THIS.
I THINK THE MORE STUDENTS WE HAVE,
THE MORE UNITED WE ARE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED
RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED UNITY AMONGST EVERY STUDENT BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS
TO FEEL SAFE.
- SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WORKED WITH THE STUDENTS TO ENSURE
THEIR SAFETY DURING THE WALK-OUT.
- THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
- TELL ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
- THE MADISON EAST HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ALWAYS ENCOURAGES
STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL, BUT HE SAYS HE TAKES PRIDE
IN THE ACTIVISM OF STUDENTS.
- WE DON'T NEED YOUR APOLOGIES.
WE NEED YOU TO CHANGE THE POLICIES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- THE YOUTH ORGANIZERS UNDERSCORED THAT CHANGE NEEDS TO
HAPPEN WITH THEIR VOTE.
- THERE'S A VOTER REGISTRATION BOOTH ON SITE.
VOLUNTEERS FROM DANE COUNTY VOTER ID COALITION,
INDIVISIBLE MADISON AND THE ACLU ARE HERE RIGHT NOW REGISTERING
VOTERS AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTER ID LAWS.
- THE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL THERE IS CHANGE.
AND EVEN IF IT TAKES A FEW YEARS,
LIKE WE'LL BE AT THE POLLS SOON ENOUGH.
I'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
AND IT'S JUST SUCH A POWERFUL THING FOR STUDENT VOICES TO BE
OUT HERE BECAUSE WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION.
- GUN CONTROL NOW!
- LAST YEAR, DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED A SLEW OF BILLS IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE ADDRESSING SPECIFIC GUN CONTROL LAWS.
BUT NOT MUCH ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THESE BILLS.
- WE ARE THE FUTURE!
- GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER ON THURSDAY ANNOUNCED HIS OWN
LEGISLATION, FUNDING INCREASED SAFETY ON CAMPUSES.
HOWEVER, IT DID NOT ADDRESS GUN RESTRICTIONS.
THE STUDENTS HAND-DELIVERED A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
WITH FIVE DEMANDS: UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS,
RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE TO BUY RIFLES, BANNING BUMP STOCKS,
LIMITING MAGAZINE CAPACITY AND MAKING GUN SAFETY TRAINING MORE
ACCESSIBLE.
- I TRULY BELIEVE THAT LIKE WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN OFFICE THAT --
YOU KNOW, THAT OUR VOICES AND OUR NEW GENERATION IS REALLY
GOING TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE IN THE POLLS.
- THE STUDENT ORGANIZERS ARE DETERMINED THAT IF THE CURRENT
LEGISLATURE CAN'T GET IT DONE, THEY'LL FIND OTHERS WHO WILL.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- THAT WAS MARISA WOJCIK REPORTING.
FROM STUDENTS TO TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE TO THE STUDENT ACTION AND THE
GOVERNOR'S CALL FOR SCHOOL SAFETY?
WE TURN NOW TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MADISON
SCHOOLS, JENNIFER CHEATHAM, FOR HER TAKE.
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
- I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
- SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO SOME 3,000 STUDENTS,
MOST OF THEM FROM YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT,
TAKING PART IN THE WALK-OUT AND MARCH OVER GUN SAFETY?
- I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE YOUTH.
I FEEL STRONGLY.
I KNOW OUR SCHOOL BOARD DOES AND THE EDUCATORS IN MADISON,
THAT WE'RE PREPARING STUDENTS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
READY FOR COLLEGE, CAREER AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
AND WE THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF STUDENTS BECOMING COLLEGE,
CAREER AND COMMUNITY-READY.
THEY HAVE AN OPINION.
THEY WANT TO VOICE THEIR OPINION.
AND I'M PROUD OF THEIR PARTICIPATION.
- SO MY NEXT QUESTION WAS WHETHER OR NOT THE MADISON
SCHOOL DISTRICT SANCTIONED THIS ACTION AND IT WOULD SOUND
AS THOUGH YOU DO.
- I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE NUANCED THAN THAT.
WE SANCTION STUDENT VOICE.
IT IS A CORE VALUE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T ORGANIZE THE EVENT.
AND BY NO MEANS DID WE DO SO.
WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL, AND WE DID.
AND WE COMMUNICATED WITH PARENTS,
IF THEIR CHILD CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEMONSTRATION
OF ANY SORT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMMUNICATING
WITH THEIR CHILDREN, MAKING PLANS SO THAT CHILDREN ARE DOING
SO SAFELY.
- WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S
SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN?
- YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT HE'S PROPOSED SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT'S VERY POSITIVE.
AND I DON'T THINK IT YET GETS TO WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.
I THINK A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ARE THE ONE-TIME
FUNDING.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CONTINUALLY WORKING ON
SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE DO ONCE.
WE DO IT CONTINUALLY, WHICH MEANS A CONTINUAL INVESTMENT.
SO IT CONCERNS ME THAT THE PROPOSAL IS FOR ONE-TIME
FUNDING.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A COMMITMENT TO ONGOING FUNDING
FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
- DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER IN MIND THAT YOUR DISTRICT WOULD NEED TO
MAKE ITSELF SECURE GOING FORWARD?
- THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. NO, I DON'T.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE A PER-PUPIL
AMOUNT THAT WAS ONGOING TO SUPPORT SAFETY AND SECURITY
MEASURES AND FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO FLEXIBLY
USE THOSE FUNDS TO ALIGN OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY PRACTICES
TO BEST PRACTICES.
- SO HIS PLAN WOULD INCLUDE THESE GRANTS, AS YOU SAY,
TO MAKE SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AND HIRE RESOURCE OFFICERS.
WHAT DOES YOUR DISTRICT NEED IN TERMS OF THOSE KINDS OF
ENHANCEMENTS?
- THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THERE ARE SEVERAL KIND OF COMPONENTS OF SAFETY AND
SECURITY.
THERE ARE FACILITIES INVESTMENTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS, FOR EXAMPLE,
CAN SECURE THEIR DOORS, YOU KNOW,
IF THERE WERE TO BE A THREAT IN A SCHOOL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE FRONT ENTRANCEWAYS THAT
ALLOW FOR CLEAR VISIBILITY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THE
SCHOOL, RIGHT?
SO THERE ARE FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS.
THERE'S ALSO ONGOING TRAINING.
IT'S, AGAIN, SOMETHING YOU DON'T DO ONCE,
BUT EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY TRAIN STAFF.
SO THERE ARE INVESTMENTS IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S STAFFING.
WE HAVE SECURITY ASSISTANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS.
WE PAY FOR AN EDUCATION RESOURCE OFFICER AT EACH OF OUR HIGH
SCHOOLS.
WE FUND THAT FULLY AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACETS AND WE'D LOVE TO
SEE SOME FUNDING DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE AREAS.
- AND THOSE EDUCATION RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE POLICE OFFICERS AND
THEY CARRY GUNS.
- THAT'S TRUE, YEP.
WE HAVE ONE MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER TRAINED
SPECIFICALLY TO BE AN EDUCATION RESOURCE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO
EACH OF OUR FOUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
- ONE OFFICER FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
- THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR INCORPORATING
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE INTO TRAINING PROGRAMS.
HOW ROBUST OR LACKING IS THAT KIND OF TRAINING RIGHT NOW IN
YOUR DISTRICT?
- YEAH.
WE HAVE CERTAINLY MADE INVESTMENTS IN TRAINING ON
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND WE'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN IT BEYOND THERE.
WE INVEST IN INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH AND A SUBSET OF OUR
SCHOOLS ARE EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM IN THE COMING YEAR.
AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY,
FUNDING A PROGRAM CALLED "BUILDING BRIDGES" THAT ALLOWS
FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO GET THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
THAT THEY NEED.
SO I SAY THAT MAINLY BECAUSE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE IS ONE
PIECE OF A LARGER PACKAGE OF I THINK ESSENTIAL INITIATIVES TO
PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES NEED.
- CRITICS SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN
DOES NOT ADDRESS THE GUN ISSUE LIKE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND
CHECKS.
IS THAT SOMETHING AS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
THAT YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON?
- I DO.
THE MADISON SCHOOL BOARD HAS ALREADY STATED ITS SUPPORT FOR
COMMON SENSE GUN REFORM.
THEY APPROVED A RESOLUTION AT OUR SCHOOL BOARD LAST MONTH
ALONG THOSE LINES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT INCLUDED
IN THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE.
- ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
JENNIFER CHEATHAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.