>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> CHILDREN RETURN TO THE
CLASSROOM AROUND THE STATE, AS
SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAREFULLY
MONITOR FOR COVID OUTBREAKS.
ALCOHOL SALES HAVE SOARED DURING
THE PANDEMIC, CAUSING CONCERN
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.
>> I TODAY ANNOUNCE I AM RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND FORMER LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH
ANNOUNCES SHE'S RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR.
>> I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
NORTHERN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
CHECKS IN ON COVID AND THE START
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THEN STATE SUPERINTENDENT JILL
UNDERLY GIVES US A STATEWIDE
PERSPECTIVE.
AND AN EAU CLAIRE MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELOR TALKS ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCES OF INCREASED
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 10.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WE ARE ONE WEEK INTO THE
SCHOOL YEAR AND ALREADY WE'RE
SEEING CHILDREN BEING
QUARANTINED AT SCHOOLS AROUND
THE STATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT
FURTHER OUTBREAKS OF THE
COVID-19 VIRUS.
EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS COME UP
WITH THEIR OWN PLAN ON HOW TO
HANDLE THIS.
FIRST WE HEAD TO NORTHERN
WISCONSIN AND CLAIRE MARTIN,
INTERIM DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
AT LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL IN
MINOCQUA.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> ONE WEEK IN, HAVE YOU HAD ANY
CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN
YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS YEAR?
>> YES, WE HAVE.
>> AND HOW ARE YOU HANDLING
THAT?
WHAT'S THE PLAN IN PLACE TO DEAL
WITH THESE OUTBREAKS?
>> WELL, WHEN STUDENTS ARE
IDENTIFIED, MOST OF THEM WILL
CONNECT WITH OUR SCHOOL NURSE.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT IS KEEPING
CONTROL OF OUR DATA.
AND THEY ARE SENT HOME TO
QUARANTINE AND THERE IS NO
DIFFERENCE IN OUR POLICY WHETHER
THEY ARE VACCINATED OR
UNVACCINATED.
OUR STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
VACCINATIONS.
THEY NEED TO QUARANTINE.
IF THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST,
THEN THEY CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE TO LIVE OUT THE
DURATION OF THE QUARANTINE BUT
THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO COME BACK.
WE REQUEST THEY TEST WITHIN
THREE TO FIVE DAYS OF SYMPTOMS.
>> LAKELAND IS MAKING MASKS
OPTIONAL.
WAS THAT YOUR DECISION OR THE
SCHOOL BOARD'S DECISION?
>> WELL, THAT WAS A DECISION
THAT WAS ACTUALLY STARTED BEFORE
I ARRIVED HERE.
I'M NEW THIS YEAR TO THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, SO THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION WAS WORKING ON
THAT PLAN AND HAD BROUGHT IT TO
THE BOARD'S ATTENTION PRIOR TO
MY COMING.
BUT THEN THE BOARD DID APPROVE A
MASK OPTIONAL PLAN SHORTLY
BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
>> WAS THERE A LOT OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH IN THAT?
I MEAN, HOW MUCH DID LOCAL
POLITICS PLAY INTO A DECISION
THAT BIG WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT STUDENTS WHO ARE LARGELY
UNVACCINATED IF THEY'RE UNDER
THE AGE OF 12?
>> RIGHT.
ACTUALLY, WE HAD TWO MEETINGS
REGARDING THIS.
THE FIRST MEETING WAS REALLY A
DISCUSSION WHERE THE PLAN WAS
UNVEILED TO THE BOARD.
AND I WOULD SAY WE HAD, I DON'T
KNOW, MAYBE 10 TO 12 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE.
IT WAS VERY RESPECTFUL.
PEOPLE OFFERED THEIR INPUT TO
THE BOARD.
THE BOARD TOOK IT INTO
CONSIDERATION.
THEN THEY HELD A SECOND MEETING
WHERE THEY NOTICED IT ON THEIR
AGENDA WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO
VOTE AND APPROVE THE PLAN.
THEY MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE
PLAN AT THAT POINT.
AGAIN, WE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS
COME FORWARD, I WOULD SAY 8 TO
10.
MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE
ANTIMASK PEOPLE.
WE REALLY DIDN'T HEAR FROM
ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AT
EITHER OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT
WERE PRO MASK.
THE BOARD ALSO LISTENED TO THE
ADVICE OF THE MEDICAL ADVISER AT
THAT MEETING AND PROCEEDED TO
APPROVE THE PLAN.
>> NOW, AT WHAT POINT WOULD YOU
ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD TO
RECONSIDER?
A STUDY BY THE CDC SHOWED AN
OUTBREAK COULD AFFECT 90% OF
STUDENTS.
DO YOU PLAN TO KEEP LOOKING AT
THIS IF THE OUTBREAKS CONTINUE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN THE BOARD APPROVED THE
PLAN, I ASKED THEM TO READ A
STATEMENT PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL
THAT GIVES THE ADMINISTRATION
THE ABILITY TO READ THE DATA,
WATCH THE TRENDS AND ADJUST THE
PLAN AS NEEDED.
CLEARLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
FORWARD TO OUR BOARD AND OUR
COMMUNITY.
BUT THE UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS
VERY FLUID AND WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO BE FLUID ALONG WITH THE
DATA AND REACT ACCORDINGLY.
OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL
OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE MAY NEED
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
>> NOW, I'VE READ THAT THERE
ISN'T A SCHOOL DISTRICT NORTH OF
STEVENS POINT THAT IS REQUIRING
MASKS THIS YEAR.
DO THE COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN
WISCONSIN NOT WORRY ABOUT
COVID-19 OR DO THEY THINK OF IT
DIFFERENTLY WHEN IT COMES TO
STUDENTS?
>> NO.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I JUST THINK THAT IT'S A HIGHLY
PERSONAL DECISION, AND I THINK
THAT PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE, WHETHER
THEY'RE PRO MASK OR NOT PRO
MASK, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR
CHILDREN.
IT'S JUST BECOME A VERY
POLITICAL ISSUE, AS YOU KNOW,
AND IN SOME CASES UNFORTUNATELY
HAS BECOME QUITE DIVISIVE IN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EVEN IN
FAMILIES.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE
SENSITIVE TO THAT AND ALLOW
PARENTS TO MAKE THE BEST
DECISION THEY CAN FOR THEIR
CHILD.
>> NOW, ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES WEBSITE IT SAYS
THE VACCINATION RATE IN ONEIDA
COUNTY IS AROUND 60%, BUT NO
KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ARE
VACCINATED.
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AS OPPOSED
TO HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE KIDS AT
LEAST HAVE A CHOICE TO BE
VACCINATED?
>> OUR DISTRICT IS ONLY A HIGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO WE ONLY HAVE
GRADES 9 THROUGH 12.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS MIGHT BE
DOING IN THAT REGARD.
>> NOW, ARE YOU TESTING IN
SCHOOL OR ARE YOU RELYING ON
PARENTS GETTING THEIR KIDS
TESTED ELSEWHERE AND THEN
NOTIFYING THE SCHOOL?
>> WE'RE REQUESTING THAT
FAMILIES TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO
THE MARSHFIELD CLINIC TESTING
CENTER, WHICH IS LITERALLY
ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HIGH
SCHOOL, FOR TESTING.
I KNOW THAT SOME SCHOOLS THAT
DON'T HAVE HEALTH FACILITIES AS
ACCESSIBLE AS WE DO ARE TESTING
WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS.
>> THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF BILL
SENT MONEY TO SCHOOLS.
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES YOUR
DISTRICT HAVE LEFT AND WILL THAT
BE ENOUGH IF OUTBREAKS KEEP
HAPPENING?
>> WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THERE ARE THREE RO ROLL-OUS
OF THE FUNDING.
THE FIRST TWO HAVE ALREADY
OCCURRED.
LAKELAND HAS ALREADY EXPENDED
MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE FIRST TWO
ALLOTMENTS.
THE FIRST IS COMING.
IT'S CALLED ESER FUNDS AND WE'RE
ANTICIPATING THAT WILL BE
APPROVED SOMETIME IN OCTOBER AND
THAT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO USE TO HELP US IN THIS
-- DURING THESE PANDEMIC TIMES.
>> NOW, REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE USED THE EXISTENCE
OF THAT INCOMING FEDERAL FUNDING
TO JUSTIFY NOT INCREASING STATE
AID TO SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT.
WHAWHAT DOES YOUR OVERALL BUDGET
LOOK LIKE FOR THIS COMING SCHOOL
YEAR?
>> WELL, THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO
HELP US TREMENDOUSLY IN
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO KIDS THAT
NEED IT THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY
AFFECTED BY THIS PANDEMIC
SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THAT IN
FACT DID NOT OCCUR AND THAT
THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE HERE
TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CLAIRE MARTIN FROM LAKELAND
UNION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> AROUND THE STATE, SCHOOLS ARE
FACING THE SAME CHOICES AS
LAKELAND UNION AND WE'RE JOINED
NOW BY STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS JILL UNDERLY.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
NICE TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO
SCHOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO
MANDATING MASKS IN THE
CLASSROOM?
>> WELL, I MEAN, I GUESS AS WELL
AS ANY OTHER KIND OF MITIGATION
STRATEGY, YOU KNOW, MASKING IS
IMPORTANT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
IT KEEPS THE PUBLIC SAFE, KEEPS
OUR KIDS SAFE, KEEPS OUR SCHOOLS
OPEN.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE.
IF IT'S MITIGATION STRATEGY THAT
KEEPS YOUR SCHOOLS OPEN, THEN IT
NEEDS TO BE TAKEN UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
>> WE'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW
SCHOOLS DOING A MASK OPTIONAL
APPROACH.
WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT EACH
SCHOOL IS DOING, CAN WE JUST
LOOK AT THE POLITICS IN THAT
AREA TO SEE IF THEY'RE MANDATING
MASKS OR IS IT NOT QUITE THAT
SIMPLE?
>> I THINK A LOT OF IT IS
POLITICS, TO BE HONEST, AND OUR
SCHOOLS ARE CAUGHT IN THE
MIDDLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE CDC AND
SCIENTISTS AND MEDICAL EXPERTS
RECOMMENDING MITIGATION
STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE MASKS, I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE LISTENING
TO THAT.
>> IN THE LAST YEAR THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT HAS
OVERTURNED A FEW SECTIONS OF
STATE LAW REGARDING WHAT
AUTHORITY STATE AGENCIES HAVE
WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH
THE PANDEMIC.
IN YOUR CAPACITY AS
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DO
YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO MANDATE
MASKS IN CLASSROOMS?
>> NO.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WHETHER
IT'S MASKS OR OTHER MITIGATION
STRATEGIES, I MEAN, THOSE ARE
CRITICAL TO FIGHTING THE
PANDEMIC AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR
SCHOOLS OPEN AND SAFE AND THAT'S
REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING AT.
>> SO THIS IS SIMPLY A LOCAL
ISSUE?
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THE STATE
SHOULD ADDRESS?
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT
FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IF WE
KNOW IT WORKS AND THE DEAL IS
THAT WE WANT TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS
OPEN AND SAFE, THAT'S SOMETHING
THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SHOULD
BE LOOKING AT AS A GOOD
MITIGATION STRATEGY.
AND IF ITE WITH, IT WORKS, THAT
THEY SHOULD BE DOING TO KEEP OUR
SCHOOLS OPEN.
IF THAT'S WHAT THE SCIENCE
INDICATES, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD
BE DOING.
>> IF THE DPI WAS TO ISSUE AN
ORDER OR RULE, COULD THAT BE
OVERTURNED BY REPUBLICANS ON THE
COMMITTEE OF RULES, THE ONE
THAT'S OVERTURNED OTHER PROPOSED
RULES REGARDING MASKS AND OTHER
MANDATES?
>> I DON'T LIKE TO SPECULATE ON
THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
WITH THAT.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE A CALL
LIKE THAT ON A PUBLIC TELEVISION
SHOW EITHER WAY.
I CAN'T SPECULATE.
>> IF THERE ARE POLITICS, LOCAL
POLITICS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE
ABILITY OF DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATORS TO MAKE CHOICES
ABOUT KEEPING KIDS SAFE, AT WHAT
POINT IS IT INCUMBENT UPON
EITHER YOU OR THE GOVERNOR,
SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE THE HEAT
POLITICALLY AND MAKING THAT
MANDATE BROADER INSTEAD OF
LEAVING THEM TO THE WHIMS OF
POLITICS AT THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL
BOARD LEVEL?
>> I UNDERSTAND.
ADMINISTRATORS ARE CAUGHT IN THE
MIDDLE.
TEACHERS AND KIDS ARE CAUGHT IN
THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT ON THE
SURFACE, LOOK AT VACCINES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE
CENTURIES, WE'VE HAD VACCINES
FOR 200 YEARS AND WE KNOW THINGS
WORK.
THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY SAD TO ME
ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION, IS
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS.
AND FOR SOMETHING TO BECOME
POLITICAL, IT'S JUST REALLY
UNFORTUNATE THAT NONEDUCATOR
ADULTS ARE INSERTING THEMSELVES
INTO A CONVERSATION AND MAKING
SOMETHING CONTROVERSIAL WHEN IT
SHOULDN'T BE.
IT SHOULD BE WHAT DO WE NEED TO
DO TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AND OUR
SCHOOLS OPEN?
AND WHEN 500,000 KIDS ARE
INELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE AT THIS
TIME, WE NEED TO DO WHAT IT
TAKES AND THAT IS TO FOLLOW THE
SCIENCE AND THE MEDICAL ADVICE.
AND WE PUSH OUT THE INFORMATION
TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO GIVE
THEM THAT BACKSTOP SO THEY CAN
SAY, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT THE CDC
RECOMMENDS, THIS IS WHAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
RECOMMENDING, YOU KNOW, THROUGH
THE SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND
THIS IS WHAT THE DPI ALSO
RECOMMENDS, TOO.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE
COULD DO BECAUSE WE ARE A
LOCAL-CONTROLLED STATE OTHER
THAN GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION
AND HOPE THEY MAKE THE BEST
DECISIONS.
>> SPEAKING OF LOCAL CONTROL,
LAST NIGHT THE MILWAUKEE SCHOOL
BOARD VOTED TO MANDATE VACCINES
FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
SHOULD THIS BE THE POLICY
EVERYWHERE?
>> WELL, I THINK, AGAIN, IF IT'S
A STRONG MITIGATION STRATEGY, WE
KNOW VACCINES ARE A STRONG
MITIGATION STRATEGY, AND IF
THAT'S WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD
DECIDES TO DO TO MITIGATE COVID
IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEN THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR THAT SCHOOL
BOARD TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> NOW, CURRENT LAW REQUIRES
STUDENTS TO BE IMMUNIZED FOR
POLIO, MMR, HEPATITIS B.
DO YOU THINK EVENTUALLY COVID
WILL MAKE THAT LIST FOR STUDENTS
ENTERING PUBLIC SCHOOL?
>> IF THEY CAN GET A STUDENT
VACCINE, YES, I DO.
OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW IT'S HIGHLY
COMMUNICABLE.
WE KNOW THAT THE OLDER YOU ARE,
IF YOU'VE GOT UNDERLYING HEALTH
CONDITIONS, THAT YOU WILL -- YOU
HAVE A MORE LIKELIHOOD TO BE
HOSPITALIZED.
AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF
THOSE THINGS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
WE HAVE TO PAY STRICT ATTENTION
TO, ESPECIALLY IN SETTINGS LIKE
SCHOOL WHERE COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES CAN SPREAD EASILY.
>> THERE'S AN OLD ADAGE ABOUT
LEARNING FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S
MISTAKES.
WHY ARE SO MANY SCHOOLS WAITING
FOR AN OU OUTBREAK BEFORE CHANGG
MANDATES AND VACCINE
REQUIREMENTS?
WHY AREN'T WE SEEING AHEAD TO
WHAT'S HAPPENING UNTIL WAITING
IT HAPPENS IN A LOT OF THESE
DISTRICTS?
>> IT'S REALLY TOUGH RIGHT NOW
TO BE AN EDUCATOR.
AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO BE A
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
I THINK OUR POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THAT.
I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT
OF PRESSURE, A LOT OF PEER
PRESSURE.
AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE
POLITICAL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC
HEALTH.
IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LEAD IN
OUR WATER, FOR EXAMPLE, OR IF WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
MEASLES, I THINK PEOPLE --
AGAIN, WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE
POLITICAL?
WHY DO OUR SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THIS WHEN ALL WE
WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE CAN
KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND KEEP
OUR KIDS AND KEEP OUR STAFF
SAFE.
>> NOW, COVID CASELOADS ARE
RISING AROUND THE STATE.
IS THERE ANY POINT AT WHICH YOU
WOULD CONSIDER RECOMMENDING
CLOSING DOWN SCHOOLS STATEWIDE
AGAIN OR WILL IT ALWAYS BE A
CASE-BY-CASE DECISION AT THIS
POINT?
>> WELL, CURRENTLY I KNOW THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH COUNTIES CAN CLOSE
DOWN SCHOOLS WHEN THERE'S A FLU
OUTBREAK.
AS AN ADMINISTRATOR THE PAST
SEVEN YEARS, WE CAME CLOSE ONE
OR TWO SEMESTERS WHERE IN ONE OF
MY BUILDINGS WE HAD TO
COMMUNICATE REGULARLY WITH OUR
COMMUNITY HEALTH.
I DON'T SEE COVID BEING ANY
DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME
DIFFERENCES IN HOW FAST IT CAN
SPREAD.
CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME
DIFFERENCES, YOU KNOW.
FLU IS A LOT MORE OBVIOUS
BECAUSE COVID WE KNOW PEOPLE CAN
BE ASYMPTOMATIC.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE GET THE
VACCINE, THAT THEY GET THE FLU
VACCINE AS WELL AS THE COVID
VACCINE IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.
BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP
TABS ON THESE CASES, MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE A REGULAR TESTING
IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DR. UNDERLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> YOU BET.
THANK YOU.
>> A NEW REPORT SHOWS
WISCONSINITES HAVE BEEN DRINKING
A LOT MORE SINCE THE START OF
THE PANDEMIC.
THE PUBLIC POLICY FORUM SAYS TAX
REVENUE FROM ALCOHOL SALES IN
THE STATE INCREASED BY NEARLY
17% IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'S THE LARGEST INCREASE
SINCE 1972 WHEN THE STATE
LOWERED THE DRINKING AGE.
WHILE MANY TAKE PRIDE IN THE
HERITAGE OF DRINKING AND
FELLOWSHIP THERE ARE THOSE WHO
DEAL WITH THE RAMIFICATIONS OF
ALCOHOL ABUSE AND WE'RE JOINED
NOW BY LUKE FEDIE WITH
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, ZAC.
>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN
EAU CLAIRE WHEN IT COMES TO
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE?
>> SO WE'RE CERTAINLY SEEING AN
INCREASED USE, PARTICULARLY FOR
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT
THE PANDEMIC HAVE LOST SOME OF
THE HEALTHY WAYS THAT THEY'VE
TYPICALLY WORKED TO MANAGE
STRESS.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SPEND TIME
WITH FRIENDS, PARTICIPATE IN
SOCIAL EVENTS TO HELP MANAGE
STRESS HAVE HAD TO FIND
DIFFERENT WAYS TO COPE AND
UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES BECAUSE
OF THE AVAILABILITY OF ALCOHOL
AND ACCE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE UF
ALCOHOL, THAT CAN BE A QUICK FIX
FOR PEOPLE TO LEAN INTO.
YOU KNOW, AS MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE ALWAYS CONTINUE TO ASSESS A
CLIENT'S USE OF ALCOHOL AND LOOK
FOR THOSE SYMPTOMS OF DEPENDENCE
AND ABUSE.
ALCOHOL IN AND OF ITSELF,
MODERATE USE OF ALCOHOL CAN BE
RELATIVELY INNOCUOUS.
WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK FOR ARE
TIMES WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL MIGHT
FEEL LIKE THEY NEED THAT ALCOHOL
IN ORDER TO FUNCTION.
SO THEY NEED IT TO GO TO WORK IN
THE MORNING, TO GO TO BED AT
NIGHT.
THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES
DYSFUNCTIONAL AND WE WANT TO DO
A FURTHER LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT TO
LOOK AT WHAT'S GETTING IN THE
WAY OF THEM FUNCTIONING WITHOUT
THAT DRUG.
THIS COULD LEAD TO LARGER
ISSUES, LIKE LEGAL PROBLEMS,
POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND CAN
EXACERBATE THE SYMPTOMS OF
MENTAL ILLNESS.
>> DID YOU SEE AN INCREASE AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC OR
WAS THERE A LAG BEFORE YOU
STARTED SEEING AN INCREASE FOR
PEOPLE NEEDING SERVICES?
>> SO WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN
INCREASE NOW.
WE CERTAINLY SAW A LITTLE BLIP
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC.
BUT AS TIME HAS GONE ON, WE'RE
SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE KIND
OF REGRESS INTO USING ALCOHOL AS
A COPING SKILL.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT THE MOST
EFFECTIVE COPING SKILL.
OFTENTIMES IT CAN WORSEN
SOMEONE'S SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL
HEALTH.
IT IS IN AND OF ITSELF A CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANT.
SOMETIMES WHAT WE END UP SEEING
IS SYMPTOMS BECOME WORSE WHEN
SOMEONE'S USING ALCOHOL.
SO THEY FALL INTO THIS CYCLE OF
DRINKING BECAUSE THEY'RE
DEPRESSED AND STAY DEPRESSED
BECAUSE THEY'RE DRINKING.
SO AS THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION RISES FOR
INDIVIDUALS, REALLY ACROSS THE
ENTIRE WORLD, IN THE EVENT OF
THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN
AS WELL IS AN INCREASED LEVEL OF
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.
PEOPLE ARE RESORTING TO FINDING
WAYS TO COPE, SOME MORE HEALTHY
THAN OTHERS.
>> HOW MUCH OF THIS IS PEOPLE
BEING ISOLATED, EITHER WORKING
FROM HOME OR HAVING LOST A JOB?
IS THERE A TENDENCY FOR PEOPLE
TO BE DAY DRINKING OR IS THIS
MORE OF BINGE DRINKING?
>> SO IT'S AN INTERESTING
QUESTION BECAUSE CERTAINLY
ISOLATION IS EASIER NOW THAN IT
HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.
AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE SOCIAL
EVENTS AREN'T HAPPENING AND SO
IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO
WITHDRAW OR TO STAY WITHDRAWN.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO EVERY
CASE THAT'S HAPPENING, BUT WE DO
KNOW THAT IT'S EASIER FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO ISOLATE, WITHDRAW
AND OFTENTIMES ALCOHOL ABUSE IS
A SECRETIVE BEHAVIOR.
SO WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE
THAT KIND OF CHECK AND BALANCE
OF HAVING PEOPLE AROUND THEM, IT
MIGHT BE EASIER FOR THEM TO FALL
INTO THAT USE.
>> NOW, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC
IMPACTED THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE
TO SEEK HELP IF THEY NEED IT OR
RECOGNIZE THEY NEED IT?
>> SURE.
SO MANY, MANY CLINICS HAVE
SHIFTED INTO PROVIDING SOME
TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
THAT'S BEEN A BLESSING BECAUSE
WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T
WORK WELL FOR EVERYBODY.
SOME PEOPLE NEED THAT
FACE-TO-FACE CONNECTION.
AND THERE CERTAINLY ARE CLINICS
THAT WITH THE PROPER PPE AND
PROTECTION CAN PROVIDE THAT
FACE-TO-FACE LEVEL AS WELL.
WE HERE AT EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
HAVE A CLINIC THAT'S CERTIFIED
IN AODA OR ALCOHOL AND OTHER
DRUG SERVICES AND WE WILL OFTEN
PROVIDE TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND IF THEY NEED
THAT LEVEL OF FACE-TO-FACE CARE,
WE FIND WAYS TO MAKE THAT WORK
AS WELL.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE THE
TECHNOLOGY TO DO TELEHEALTH, TO
OFFER IT TO REALLY ANYBODY
ANYWHERE.
THE BAD NEWS IS IT DOESN'T
ALWAYS FIT FOR EVERYBODY.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
DOING WHAT'S CLINICALLY
INDICATED FOR THE FOLKS WE'RE
SEEING.
>> WHAT SHOULD FAMILY AND
FRIENDS BE LOOKING FOR AND HOW
CAN THEY HELP IF THEY RECOGNIZE
THE SIGNS?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY ONE OF THE
THINGS TO LOOK FOR IS AGAIN THAT
SOCIAL ISOLATION OR THAT
WITHDRAWAL.
CHECKING IN WITH SOMEBODY,
REALLY JUST ASKING THE QUESTION
HOW YOU DOING, RIGHT?
I KNOW IN THE MIDWEST IT'S EASY
FOR US TO SAY FINE AND MOVE ON
AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT
DIGGING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
HOW YOU DOING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU.
THIS IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT.
IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS
AN INDIVIDUAL IS ENGAGING IN
THAT'S CONCERNING, BRING THOSE
BEHAVIORS UP WITH THAT
INDIVIDUAL.
TELL THEM YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
THEM.
ASK THEM WHAT'S GOING ON.
IF THEY SAY THAT THEY NEED HELP
OR ARE INDICATING THAT THEY MAY
HAVE A PROBLEM, ENCOURAGE THEM
TO SEEK HELP AND MAYBE EVEN HELP
THEM CONNECT WITH THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE.
>> NOW, DOES THE STATE AND DO
THE COUNTIES HAVE ENOUGH
RESOURCES TO HANDLE THIS
INCREASE IN NEED?
>> SO, ZAC, THAT ALWAYS BECOMES
THE BIGGEST ISSUE, RIGHT?
IT'S THE CAPACITY TO MANAGE THE
NEED.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HERE AT
EAU CLAIRE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES HAVE A WAIT LIST IN OUR
CLINIC.
WE TRY TO CONTINUE, IN MOST
CLINICS TRY TO TRIAGE AS FOLKS
COME IN AND RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.
SO IF SOMEONE COMES IN WITH AN
EMERGENT OR CRISIS-BASED NEED,
WE'RE CERTAINLY TRYING TO
RESPOND TO THAT.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S
ALWAYS GOING TO BE ROOM FOR
GROWTH.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE
SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY,
MORE SOBER LIVING KINDS OF
HOMES, THINGS THAT REALLY TEND
TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE.
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE
THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY AND IT'S
PROBABLY NOT AN ISSUE THAT'S
GOING TO SLOW AS TIME GOES ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LUKE FEDIE FROM EAU CLAIRE
COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, ZAC.
>> IT'S OFFICIAL.
FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
REBECCA KLEEFISCH WILL RUN FOR
GOVERNOR IN 2022.
AT HER ANNOUNCEMENT IN WAUKESHA
ON THURSDAY, KLEEFISCH
CRITICIZED GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING
HOW HE HANDLED SCHOOLS DURING
THE PANDEMIC.
>> HOW MUCH OF US IN THIS ROOM
HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY TONY
EVERS' WEAK LEADERSHIP IN OUR
SCHOOLS, EDUCATION ACROSS THE
STATE, WHERE HE SHUT THEM DOWN
AND LOCKED KIDS OUT FOR A YEAR
AND A HALF?
JUST WATCHING THEM IN AN
EPIDEMIC OF ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION AND A YEAR AND A HALF
OF LEARNING LOSS SO HE COULD PAY
HOMAGE TO THE TEACHERS UNION
BOSSES.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS' CAMPAIGN
RELEASED THIS STATEMENT
REGARDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH ALREADY LEFT A
DEVASTATING MARK ON WISCONSIN
AFTE EIGHT YEARS OF ATTACKING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SLASHING
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AND
SUPPORTING MASSIVE HANDOUTS TO
RPTION COMPANIES.
NOW TO TROUBLED WATERS ON LAKE
SUPERIOR.
THAT'S WHERE A CONTROVERSIAL
PROPOSAL SEEKS TO DRAW FROM THE
LAKE'S WATERSHED SO IT CAN BE
BOTTLED AND SOLD.
IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF A
TECHNICALITY IN THE GREAT LAKES
COMPACT.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH
PROFESSOR DAVID STRIFLING AT THE
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL ABOUT WHY
THIS IS CAUSING ALARM.
>> NOW, WHAT I'VE HEARD MOST IS
THAT THIS COULD SET A NEW
PRECEDENT.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
COULD THIS ALLOW OTHER COMPANIES
TO COME IN AND FOLLOW SUIT TO
LARGE QUANTITY?
>> SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE
COMPACT ALREADY SORT OF PERMITS
THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY.
SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
COMPACT, I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS
IS ANYTHING NEW AS COMPARED TO
WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER
PLACES.
WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS
INTERESTING IS THE COLLISION
BETWEEN THE COUNTY'S LAND USE
AUTHORITY ON THE ONE HAND AND
THE DNR'S AUTHORITY OVER WATER
USE, GROUNDWATER USE IN THE
STATE ON THE OTHER.
AND THAT'S HOW THE PARTIES ARE
KIND OF FRAMING UP THIS CASE.
CRYSTAL CLEAR SAYS THIS IS JUST
A QUESTION FOR THE DNR AND THE
COUNTY SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ROLE.
IF THE DNR SAYS THE WELL IS
OKAY, THEY SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
THE COUNTY SAYS, NO, WE'VE GOT
AUTHORITY OVER LAND USE
REGULATION AND YOU NEED AN
AMERICA MIA PERMITTO OPERATE.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
PRIMARY ISSUE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT PRECEDENT.
NOW, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THE
APPLICANT DOESN'T NEED ANY
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FROM THE
COUNTY, THEN CONCEIVABLY ALL OF
THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS COULD
ALSO DECIDE TO DO THE SAME THING
AND OPERATE THEIR OWN BOTTLED
WATER FACILITIES AND THEN YOU
MIGHT SEE AN IMPACT IF YOU DON'T
ALREADY IN THE LOCAL GROUNDWATER
TABLE DRAWDOWNS OF NEARBY
SURFACE WATERS, THAT TYPE OF
THING, EFFECTS ON THE WATERSHED
IN WHICH THE BOTTLES IS TAKING
PLACE.
THE VOLUMES OF WATER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE AT LEAST FOR
NOWL ARE NOT GOING TO DRAW DOWN
LAKE SUPERIOR.
THEY'RE PRETTY SMALL AMOUNTS OF
WATER.
BUT IF THAT AMOUNT INCREASES IN
THE FUTURE OR IF OTHER NEIGHBORS
DECIDE TO DO THE SAME THING,
THEN YOU COULD START TO SEE
EFFECTS IN THE WATERSHED IF NOT
IN THE LAKE.
>> YOU CAN FIND THE COMPLETE
INTERVIEW WITH DAVID STRIFLING
BY GOING TO pbswisconsin.org
AND CLICKING ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.