>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW" WE SPEAK
WITH A TRAUMA SPECIALIST ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED IN WAUKESHA.
ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON HOW A
NORTHERN WISCONSIN SCHOOL IS
INNOVATING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION.
STUDENT JOURNALIST, KIM
LEADHOLM, REPORTS ON ABORTION
POLICY IN WISCONSIN.
IT IS "HERE & NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 26.
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR
"HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
?
>>> IT HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL
THANKSGIVING WEEK FOR THE
COMMUNITY OF WAUKESHA.
THE DRIVER OF AN SUV CHARGED IN
CONNECTION WITH THE DEATHS OF AT
LEAST SIX PEOPLE AND INJURIES TO
DOZENS MORE.
PEOPLE WHO WERE ATTENDING A
DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE LAST
SUNDAY.
BAIL WAS SET AT $5 MILLION FOR
39-YEAR-OLD DARREL BROOKS OF
MILWAUKEE.
THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT STATES IT
WAS CLEAR BROOKS INTENDED TO
STRIKE AND HURT AS MANY PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE AFTER BARRELING
THROUGH BARRICADES AT THE ANNUAL
PARADE HELD IN THE HEART OF THE
CITY ON MAIN STREET.
TO HELP ITS COMMUNITY HEAL, CITY
OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS, AND
SOME GOVERNMENT SERVICES UNTIL
NEXT WEEK.
THEY ARE ALSO OFFERING GRIEF
COUNSELING TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS
HELP.
GOVERNOR EVERS ORDERED FLAGS AT
HALF STAFF ACROSS THE STATE.
WAUKESHA AND WISCONSIN IN
MOURNING.
LOOKING NOW AT THE AFTERMATH OF
THE WAUKESHA TRAGEDY, WHAT IS
KNOWN AS "COLLECTIVE TRAUMA"
DESCRIBES A SITUATION THAT
BREAKS NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS
THAT WE HAVE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL
OR SOCIETY.
A DRIVER PLOWING THROUGH CROWDS
IN A HOLIDAY PARADE CERTAINLY
FITS.
THERE IS TRAUMA BORN OF
CONFUSION AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY.
OF COURSE, IT IS ACUTE FOR
PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED THERE OR
LOST LOVED ONES, BUT ALSO FOR
WITNESSES AND THE IMMEDIATE
COMMUNITY.
WHAT ABOUT THE BROADER
COMMUNITY?
WE TURN TO SCOTT WEBB, THE
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE COORDINATOR
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES AND THE UW-MADISON
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK.
>> HOW DO WE MAKE SENSE OF WHAT
HAPPENED?
>> I DON'T REALLY THINK YOU CAN
MAKE SENSE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF
COLLECTIVE TRAUMA IS THAT IT
HAPPENS TO A WIDE GROUPS OF
PEOPLE, COULD BE ENTIRE
SOCIETIES, ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEATURES OF
IT IS THAT IT IS HARD TO MAKE
SENSE OF IT, AND SO I THINK THAT
IT IS NATURAL FOR US TO FEEL
LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T WRAP
OUR BRAINS AROUND WHAT HAPPENED,
AND IT IS CONFUSING, AND IT
THROWS US INTO THIS EXTREME
STATE OF CONFUSION AND
UNCERTAINTY.
THAT'S PART OF THE REALITY OF
COLLECTIVE TRAUMA.
>> SO FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE
PARADE, EVEN AS WITNESSES, HOW
LIKELY IS IT THAT THEY ARE
TRAUMATIZED AND WILL EXPERIENCE
SYMPTOMS OF THAT?
>> I THINK IT IS VERY LIKELY
THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE THERE HAVE BEEN
TRAUMATIZED.
NOW, THE WAY THEY RESPOND TO IT
IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT,
DEPENDING ON A PERSON'S MAKEUP,
THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES, MAYBE
PAST TRAUMAS THAT GO BACK TO
THEIR CHILDHOOD, AND SO THERE'S
GOING TO BE A WIDE VARIETY OF
RESPONSES TO THE TRAUMATIC EVENT
AS HORRIFIC AS IT WAS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEALING FROM
TRAUMA TAKES PLACE WITH
RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE HOPEFULLY CAN
GET TO TALKING ABOUT, THE
HEALING PART OF TRAUMA, HAPPENS
IN THE CONTEXT OF HEALTHY,
LOVING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE
COME TOGETHER IN THIS PAIN.
>> I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ASK, FOR
THOSE WHO WERE INJURED,
THEMSELVES, OR LOST LOVED ONES,
HOW DO THEY HEAL?
>> I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS
GRIEF.
I THINK THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH
A GRIEF WHICH IS A VERY POWERFUL
EMOTIONAL REACTION TO LOSS.
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF GRIEVING.
WE LOST LOVED ONES.
WE LOST WHAT USED TO BE BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED, AND THEN
NOW WITH THIS, PEOPLE WERE
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC,
GATHERING FOR THIS FESTIVE
OCCASION, ENTERING INTO THE
HOLIDAY SEASON, THERE'S A LOT OF
HOPE AND EXPECTATION AND
EXCITEMENT AND THEN THIS
HORRIFIC THING HAPPENED, AND SO
THAT ADDS TO THE LAYERS OF
TRAUMA WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITH
THE PANDEMIC, AND SO THE WAY
PEOPLE HEAL FROM IT?
THEY HAVE TO GRIEVE.
WHAT I OFTEN TELL MY CLIENTS
WHEN I WAS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST
YEARS AGO WAS YOU HAVE TO FEEL
IT TO HEAL IT.
YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS
A LOSS, A GRIEVING PROCESS THAT
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
YOU DO THAT, HOPEFULLY, WITHIN
THE CONTEXT OF LOVING
RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE, AGAIN,
THAT'S HOW YOU HEAL MOST FROM
MOST TYPES OF TRAUMA, ALL TYPES
OF TRAUMA, IS THROUGH HEALTHY,
LOVING RELATIONSHIPS.
I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO FIND PEOPLE THAT WILL CARE
FOR YOU AND LET YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT YOU FEEL, WHAT YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH, AND THAT THEY ARE ABLE
TO KIND OF BEAR WITNESS TO THAT
AND BE THERE FOR YOU AND SUPPORT
EACH OTHER THAT WAY.
SO IT IS JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
THE GRIEF IS REAL.
WE CAN'T -- WE OFTEN TRY TO
AVOID GRIEF AND TRY TO STAY AWAY
FROM IT, AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO REALLY WALK THROUGH
THAT DOOR OF GRIEF AND REALLY
EXPERIENCE WHAT IT IS FEELING
LIKE, AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
TAKE TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY, LIKE,
BETWEEN THIS TIME RIGHT HERE,
THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I'M GOING
HAVE THAT BE GRIEF TIME WHERE
I'M GOING TO FEEL THIS AND
EXPERIENCE ALL THE EMOTIONS OF
WHAT HAPPENED.
WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND
YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO GRIEVE,
YOU MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS A
LITTLE BIT QUICKER, BUT IT IS
DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.
THE GRIEVING PROCESS, THERE'S NO
SET RECIPE.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S MONTHS.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT COULD BE
YEARS.
>> PRESUMABLY, WE ONLY HAVE A
HALF MINUTE LEFT, BUT PEOPLE ARE
STILL IN SHOCK, THOSE MOST
ACUTELY AFFECTED BY THE TRAUMA
OF THIS, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE
EXPECTED TO THEN MOVE THROUGH
THAT GRIEVING AND SO WHAT CAN
YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND
OF STILL IN THAT PLACE OF
IMMEDIATE SHOCK?
>> WELL, I THINK THE FIRST THING
IS IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY
RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THE
PAST TWO YEARS WITH THE
PANDEMIC, THE VIOLENCE IN
KENOSHA, WHAT HAPPENED IN
WAUKESHA SO GIVE YOURSELF GRACE
AND REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO LOVE
YOU AND BE THERE FOR SOMEBODY
ELSE AND JUST KNOW THAT HEALING
HAPPENS WITHIN THAT LOVING
RELATIONSHIP.
>> SCOTT WEBB, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>>> IN EDUCATION COVERAGE, IT IS
A TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS.
ONE, A SMALL CHARTER SERVING
SPECIAL NEEDS, MIDDLE, AND HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THE OTHER,
A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL
SERVING SIMILAR LEARNERS.
THEY ARE BOTH IN THE MINOCQUA
DISTRICT BUT DIFFERENT WHEN IT
COMES TO FUNDING AND SERVICES.
REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, SHOWS US
HOW AND WHY THE STATE BUDGET
LINE DESIGNATE THE FOR SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUNDING IS WOEFULLY
UNDERFUNDED.
>> GOOD MORNING, BUDDY.
>> Reporter: LAKELAND STAR
ACADEMY IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL
SCHOOL.
FOR STARTERS, IT IS TECHNICALLY
TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE
LAKELAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL IN
MINOCQUA.
>> LATER THIS WEEK, WE WILL
EXPLORE --
>> Reporter: FROM INCEPTION,
THIS WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WITH SENSORY NEEDS, PRIMARILY
STUDENTS WITH A DIAGNOSIS ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM.
>> RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WHEN
THEY CAME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR
MEETING SENSORY NEEDS.
>> Reporter: YOU'LL NOTICE
EACH CEILING LIGHT IS COVERED BY
A BLUE CAPE.
ERIC MIKOLEIT IS THE DIRECTOR,
AND HE SAYS BRIGHT LIGHTS AND
NOISES CAN BE A BARRIER TO
LEARNING.
>> WE WOULD MEET THEIR SENSORY
NEEDS FROM ACOUSTICS AND
LIGHTINGS AND SOUNDS THAT MANY
STUDENTS ON THE SPECTRUM, WE
KNEW WOULD BE REGULATED BEFORE
WE COULD TOUCH MATH AND ENGLISH.
>> Reporter: INDIGO, THE DOG,
ROAMS THE HALLS LOOKING FOR
TREATS AND PETS.
HE'S THERE, AND SOME STUDENTS
REALLY FLOCK TO THAT.
FOR SOME STUDENTS, THE FIRST
CLASS OF THE DAY IS 45 MINUTES
NORTH AT SCHOLL COMMUNITY IMPACT
GROUP.
WHERE WORKING WITH HORSES FORCES
KIDS TO COMMUNICATE VERBALLY.
>> COOPER COMING THROUGH.
>> Reporter: AND LEARNING TO
RIDE DOUBLES AS OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY, TEACHING BALANCE AND
COORDINATION.
>> WE'VE SEEN GREAT GROWTH WHEN
IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION, OT,
AND JUST HAVING A PLACE TO KIND
OF RELAX.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE ALL YOUR DINOSAURS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
BIGGEST GAINS ARE IN THE TEST
SCORES, BUT IN KIDS WHO WERE NOT
COMFORTABLE IN A SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT BEFORE NOW.
>> NICE, SAM.
>> THEY ARE INCREASING
CONFIDENCE.
WHERE THEY LOOK AT SCHOOL NOW IS
NOT AS AN ADVERSARY.
>> Reporter: LAKELAND STAR WAS
CREATED FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE
LOCAL PARENTS DID NOT LIKE THE
SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THEIR
CHILDREN IN THE TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING.
IT IS MODELED OFF OF SCHOOL IN
MINNESOTA CALLED LIONSGATE, AND
ERIC MIKOLEIT REMEMBERS HIS
FEELING IN THE FIRST VISIT.
>> THE MORE THEY TALKED, IT WAS
JAWDROPPING, LIKE, LITERALLY, I
HAD TO KIND OF -- OKAY, WE HAVE
TO GO BACK TO WISCONSIN, YOU
KNOW, AND JUST WENT FROM THERE.
>> Reporter: THE DIFFERENCE IS
IN MINNESOTA THE STATE PROVIDES
THE FUNDING TO RUN LIONSGATE.
AS A WISCONSIN CHARTER SCHOOL,
MONEY FOLLOWS THE STAR ACADEMY
STUDENTS OVER FROM THE HIGH
SCHOOL, BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR THE STAFFING THEY
NEED.
>> WE HAVE A FULL-TIME SPEECH
AND LANGUAGE, A FULL-TIME
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, A
FULL-TIME BCBA, UNHEARD OF IN
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> Reporter: THE PARENTS
STARTED TO FUNDRAISE, A LOCAL
FOUNDATION CAME ON BOARD, THEN
THEY HELD A GOLF TOURNAMENT.
>> WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST GOLF
OUTING FOUR YEARS AGO AND RAISED
ABOUT $400,000, NO ONE KNEW WHAT
TO EXPECT.
WE THOUGHT IF WE RAISE $1,
GREAT, IF IT WAS $400,000, YOU
HAVE TO BE KIDDING YEAR, AND THE
LAST YEAR WAS DOUBLE, AND THIS
YEAR, 1.3 MILLION.
>> Reporter: A STUNNING AMOUNT
OF MONEY FOR 38 STUDENTS.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A
COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT IT THE
WAY THEY DO.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
BIGGEST PROBLEM NOW IS A LACK OF
SPACE.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS,
AND IT IS TOUGH TO SAY "NO" AND
TOUGH TO TELL FAMILIES OUTSIDE
OF OUR DISTRICT, IN THE
DISTRICT, THAT, SORRY, WE'RE ON
A WAITING LIST.
>> Reporter: STUDENTS WHO
CAN'T GET IN TO STAR ACADEMY GO
ACROSS THE PARKING LOT TO
LAKELAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL,
WHERE THE MAJORITY OF KIDS WITH
SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS ARE
TAUGHT.
>> THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF NEED.
>> Reporter: REBECCA JABLONSKI
IS THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION, SHE WOULD LOVE TO
OFFER THE SAME SERVICES.
>> THERAPY DOG, SMALLER CASE
MANAGEMENT SIZES, MORE
INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE FOR SPEECH
AND LANGUAGE, IF I COULD HAVE
THAT HERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT,
I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN.
>> Reporter: HER BUDGET FOR
118 STUDENTS IS HALF THAT OF
STAR ACADEMY.
SHE'S HAPPY FOR STARS'
FUNDRAISING AND WHAT IT MEANS
FOR THOSE KIDS, BUT IT IS ALSO
FRUSTRATING.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T FRUSTRATE ME
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT
AVAILABLE.
IT FRUSTRATES ME BECAUSE I CAN'T
OFFER IT TO ALL THE STUDENTS.
>> Reporter: WHY NOT?
>> IN COMPARISON TO THE AMOUNT
OF SERVICES THAT SPECIAL ED KIDS
NEED, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FUNDED
IS VERY LOW.
>> Reporter: THE PROBLEM IS
THE STATE KNOWINGLY UNDERFUNDS
SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICES SO THEY
HAVE TO TAKE MONEY FROM GENERAL
EDUCATION OR SHORTCHANGE SPECIAL
ED.
>> WE INTENTIONALLY SET THE
SYSTEM UP.
>> Reporter: JEFF
SPITZER-RESNICK IS A CIVIL
RIGHTS LAWYER WHO SUED SEVERAL
DISTRICTS ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION STUDENTS IN ORDER TO
FORCE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICES THEY NEED.
>> I HOPE I'M HELPING TO CHANGE
THE SYSTEM.
SOMETIMES IT IS ONE STEP AT A
TIME.
SOMETIMES IT IS BIGGER PICTURE.
>> Reporter: HE EXPLAINS THE
WAY THE STATE FUNDS SPECIAL
EDUCATION IS EACH SCHOOL SUBMITS
THEIR ESTIMATED COSTS TO THE
STATE, AND THEN THE AVAILABLE
MONEY IS SPLIT PROPORTIONALLY.
>> FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S
REQUESTED FROM EVERY SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN SPECIAL ED, WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE 28-CENTS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT 28%
REIMBURSEMENT LEVEL IS THE
LOWEST IN THE NATION FOR STATES
THAT USE THAT METHOD.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO
SHORTCHANGES WHAT THEY PROMISED
FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION,
CONTRIBUTING ANOTHER 24% OF
COSTS.
THAT ADDS UP TO 52% OF THE COSTS
COVERED LEAVING THE DISTRICTS TO
FIGURE UP THE REST ON ITS OWN.
>> SOONER OR LATER, UNLESS IT'S
GOING TO CRUMBLE, NEEDS TO
ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION
FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: FUNDING LEVELS
ARE A BUDGET DECISION.
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
HAVE KEPT SPECIAL EDUCATION
REIMBURSEMENT TO AROUND 28% FOR
THE LAST DECADE.
IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR,
DISTRICTS ESTIMATED $1.6 BILLION
IN SERVICES NEEDED.
THE STATE PROVIDED JUST
$450 MILLION.
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
PREPARED A MASSIVE INCREASE IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION SPENDING IN
THE LAST BUDGET PROPOSAL.
HIS PLAN WOULD HAVE INCREASED
STATE FUNDING BY $400 MILLION A
YEAR, BRINGING REIMBURSEMENT
LEVELS TO 50%.
INSTEAD, REPUBLICANS ADDED
$85 MILLION, BRINGING
REIMBURSEMENT LEVELS TO 30%.
>> I THINK, OVERALL, IT WAS A
DARN GOOD BUDGETS.
>> Reporter: ROB SWEARINGEN IS
A REPUBLICAN IN THE ASSEMBLY AND
LAKELAND STAR'S BIGGEST CHAMPION
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>> I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON AUTISM,
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY,
AND THE STATE HAS TO ADDRESS IT
MORE THAN THEY ARE NOW.
>> Reporter: IN THE LAST TWO
BUDGETS, HE'S GOT THE COLLEAGUES
TO INSERT FUNDING SPECIFICALLY
FOR LAKELAND STAR.
GOVERNOR EVERS VETOED THE
FUNDING EACH TIME SAYING HE DOES
NOT WANT TO PICK WINNERS AND
LOSERS BY TARGETING INDIVIDUAL
SCHOOLS.
>> IT WAS A PERSONAL GUT PUNCH
TO ME FROM GOVERNOR EVERS WHEN
HE VETOED IT THE SECOND TIME,
AND HE CLAIMS WINNERS AND
LOSERS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS OTHER
DISTRICTS SHOULD LOOK TO COPY
LAKELAND STAR.
>> THAT MODEL COULD BE MAYBE
DUPLICATED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
STATE, BUT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE
TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY
SUPPORT.
>> Reporter: ERIC MIKOLEIT
SAYS HE'S BEEN GETTING CALLS,
BUT WITHOUT MILLION DOLLAR
FUNDRAISERS, JUST STARTING A
CHARTER SCHOOL IS NOT ENOUGH.
>> THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT IN
THE CURRENT MODEL TO BE ABLE TO
REPLICATE THAT WITHOUT ACTUALLY
HAVING CHANGES IN MADISON AND SO
FORTH IN FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.
>> WHEN THEY START TOSIFEN OFF
MONEY FROM ALREADY SHORTCHANGED
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT'S A
PROBLEMATIC PUBLIC POLICY
DECISION.
>> Reporter: JEFF
SPITZER-RESNICK SAYS EVEN
CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE PART OF
THE LARGER DISTRICT DOUBLE UP
OVERHEAD COSTS AND TAKE AWAY
FROM THE OTHER STUDENTS.
>> NOW, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S A BAD
SCHOOL.
DOESN'T MEAN THOSE KIDS ARE NOT
GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE PARENTS
AND EDUCATORS WHO FORMED IT DID
IT WITH ILL-INTENT.
THEY SAW A SICK, UNHEALTHY
SYSTEM, AND THEY ARE DOING WHAT
THEY CAN TO ADDRESS IT, BUT
THAT'S NOT A SYSTEMIC FIX.
>> Reporter: WHETHER OR NOT
LAKELAND STAR ACADEMY CAN BE
REPLICATED, THE LARGEST QUESTION
IS WHETHER THEIR SUCCESS WITH
STUDENTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
EXCEPTIONAL OR THE BASELINE FOR
WHAT SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
DESERVE.
>> WHERE'S THE BENCHMARK?
WHERE'S IT START?
WHERE'S THE CEILING?
IS THIS A HIGH BENCHMARK?
>> Reporter: THERE ARE MORE
THAN 13,000 STUDENTS DIAGNOSED
ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN
WISCONSIN, AND LAKELAND STAR
ACADEMY IS TEACHING A FEWER THAN
40 OF THEM.
IN THE LAST BUDGET, REPUBLICANS
PRIORITIZED $2 BILLION IN TAX
CUTS.
THE STATE CURRENTLY HAS A
$1.7 BILLION SURPLUS.
ROB SWEARINGEN SAYS JUST BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS WON'T SPEND MORE ON
SPECIAL EDUCATION DOESN'T MEAN
THEY DON'T CARE.
>> CORE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO
ALWAYS SAY WE HAVE MORE TAX
CUTS, YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS I
WOULDN'T CALL -- I WOULDN'T
PAINT THEM AS ANTI-EDUCATION.
>> PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER
TYPE OF MODEL WHERE, SURE, MIGHT
BE A STICKER PRICE WHEN YOU
FIRST LOOK AT IT.
>> Reporter: ERIC MIKOLEIT
SAYS HIS STUDENTS ARE ALL THE
EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO PROVE IT'S
WORTH THE COST.
ANOTHER PROGRAM AT LAKELAND STAR
IS LOCATED IN DONATED SPACE IN A
NEARBY MEDICAL CENTER.
THIS IS A LAB WHERE STUDENTS DO
HANDS-ON WORK TO FIND OUT WHAT
REAL WORLD JOBS THEY MAY BE
SUITED FOR AND WHAT JOBS THEY
ENJOY DOING.
>> IT IS A BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE.
THE KIDS ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUNCH
IN ON THE TIME CLOCK.
>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE OF
ROB SWEARINGEN'S FAVORITE THINGS
ABOUT LAKELAND STAR.
>> THESE KIDS ARE LEARNING REAL
WORLD SKILLS TO PICK UP ON AND
MOVE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND
HAVE DONE SO.
>> Reporter: THERE'S A DRIVING
SIMULATOR WHERE STUDENTS GET
THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
ERIC MIKOLEIT SAYS MOST PARENTS
OF HIS STUDENTS NEVER DREAMED
THEIR CHILDREN WOULD DRIVE A CAR
TO A JOB.
>> THAT LOOK WAS, LIKE, REALLY,
YOU WANT TO DO DRIVER'S EDGE?
IN THE NORTH WOODS, STUDENTS
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
>> Reporter: WHILE THEY ARE
NOT CHEAP, THESE ARE THE
PROGRAMS THAT GIVE THESE KIDS A
CHANCE TO BE FULL PARTICIPANTS
IN SOCIETY, MAKING THE EXPENSE
WORTH EVERY PENNY.
>> WHAT WE ARE SAVING, ACTUALLY,
TO THE TAXPAYER, WHERE WE ARE
NOT FEEDING A PRISON PIPELINE
AND NOT BEING ADDITIONAL COST TO
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WHERE
WE'RE ADDRESSING IT NOW IN A WAY
WHERE IT ACTUALLY IS LESS MONEY,
ECT., TO THE TAXPAYERS, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST HAS
TO FLIP, A LENS THAT HAS TO
FLIP, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE
WITH OUR SUCCESS, THAT WE CAN
FLIP THAT LENS.
>> GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY.
>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM
MINOCQUA, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR
"HERE & NOW." >>> THIS REPORTING
SPARKED QUESTIONS SO WE ASKED
ZAC TO ANSWER SOME OF THEM AND
SPOKE WITH HIM BEFORE THE
HOLIDAY.
HEY, ZAC, WHAT AN INTERESTING
STORY.
THANKS FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU, FRED.
>> SO STAR ACADEMY SOUNDS REALLY
GREAT, BUT THE SITUATION WITH
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN,
WHAT KIND OF A VALUES CHOICE IS
THIS TO UNDERFUND IT TO THIS
EXTENT YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR
GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS?
>> WELL, THE QUESTION COMES DOWN
TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT?
THE LEGISLATURE'S POINT OF VIEW,
THEY ARE PUTTING FUNDING INTO
IT, AND THEN THE LAW SAYS IT'S
UP TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK,
AND THEY HAVE OPTIONS AT THEIR
DISPOSAL, BUT YOU NEVER SEE A
REFERENDUM FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
IN ANY DISTRICT I'VE SEEN IN
WISCONSIN, AND SO THEIR CHOICES
ARE MADE ON THE GROUND ABOUT
WHAT THEY CAN DO BEST FOR THEIR
STUDENTS, AND THERE ARE SOME
DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUED
BECAUSE PEOPLE, THE PARENTS AND
LAWYERS SAY THEY ARE NOT DOING
ENOUGH, AND OTHER DISTRICTS GO
AS FAR AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN, BUT
MOST ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF
MAKING THE BEST CHOICE FOR ALL
STUDENTS.
>> HOW DID WISCONSIN GET TO THE
PLACE WHERE IT MANDATES THE
SERVICES, BUT ONLY PAYS FOR HALF
OF IT, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
FUNDING?
>> WELL, I MEAN, THE CLASSIC
PHRASE OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATE
IS IN PLACE HERE, AND SOME OF
THIS GOES BACK ALMOST A HALF
CENTURY TO WHEN THE FIRST LAWS
WERE PUT IN PLACE THAT CREATED
THE RIGHT FOR THESE SERVICES TO
BE PROVIDED FOR SPECIAL
EDUCATION STUDENTS.
ACCORDING TO BACK THEN, THE
ESTIMATES WERE HALF OF ALL
STUDENTS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO
RECEIVE THESE SERVICES NEVER
CAME INTO SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST
PLACE, AND SO WHEN THEY MADE
EARLY PROJECTIONS ABOUT WHAT
PERCENT AND WHAT THE DOLLAR
FIGURES WOULD LOOK LIKE, THEY
WERE WRONG BECAUSE IT TURNED OUT
TO BE A LOT MORE THAN HALF OF
THOSE STUDENTS NEVER CAME TO THE
SCHOOLS, AND WHEN PARENTS FOUND
OUT THEIR STUDENTS HAD A RIGHT
TO COME TO SCHOOL AND RIGHT TO
SERVICES, MORE OF THEM SHOWED UP
THAN THEY PREPARED FOR, AND THAT
MEANT THEY DID NOT INCREASE THE
DOLLARS, SO THE PERCENTAGE SLID
DOWN TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT, AND
THEY NEVER MADE IT UP IN THE
MEANTIME.
>> SO IF SCHOOLS HAVE TO ROB
PETER TO PAY PAUL, TAKE FROM
GENERAL EDUCATION, IF THEY WANT
TO MAKE UP FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
FUNDING, WHO GETS THE SHORT END
HERE?
BOTH?
>> YEAH.
JUST DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL
DISTRICT.
I MEAN, IN SOME CASES, THE
PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS,
THEMSELF, MAY NOT KNOW THE FULL
EXTENT OF WHAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE.
THEY WORK WITH THE DISTRICT.
THEY COME UP WITH THEIR IEP, THE
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN,
AND IT TELLS THEM WHAT SERVICES
THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO
RECEIVE AND THE DISTRICT DOES
THEIR BEST TO PROVIDE THEM, AND
THERE'S A QUESTION OF, SHOULD
THEY DO MORE?
COULD THEY DO MORE?
SOME PARENTS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS
AND WILL ASSERTIVELY FIGHT FOR
THEIR CHILDREN TO GET MORE
SERVICES, AND SOMETIMES TO THE
SHIGRIN OF THE SCHOOL PAYING FOR
IT, AND OTHER TIMES IT'S
STUDENTS AND PARENTS SAYING,
THIS IS BEST WE HAVE AND THEY
ACCEPT.
>> ANY EXPECTATION AT ALL GIVEN
THE CURRENT POLITICAL SPLIT
ANYTHING CHANGES TO MAKE SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUNDING WHOLE?
>> WELL, IF THERE WAS A TIME IN
OUR STATE'S HISTORY THAT WE HAVE
THE MONEY TO MAKE THE JUMP IN
SERVICES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN
THE LAST BUDGET, AND IT DID NOT
HAPPEN.
I MEAN, WE SAW $2 BILLION IN TAX
CUTS.
WE ARE SITTING ON NEARLY
$2 BILLION IN A SURPLUS FOR THE
STATE.
THERE'S A LARGE RAINY DAY FUND,
AND IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THERE WAS NO POLITICAL WILL TO
SEE A DRAMATIC INCREASE.
EVEN GOVERNOR EVERS INCREASE
THAT HE PROPOSED ONLY WOULD HAVE
BROUGHT IT UP TO 50% FUNDING AND
NOT REACH THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT
THE STATE PROMISED WHEN THEY
CREATED THE LAW IN THE FIRST
PLACE, AND ADVOCATES SAY, WELL,
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD
STEP, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THE
FULL AMOUNT REACHED, AND THERE
WAS NOT THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO
THAT.
IT HAPPENS TO BE WITH THE
INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS WHETHER THE
POLITICAL POWER IS THERE TO FIND
SUPPORT FOR THAT, AND WE SAW IN
THIS DISTRICT, THERE WAS MONEY
SET ASIDE, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
TO COMPENSATE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE
TO FUNDRAISE PRIVATELY.
>> A QUICK LAST QUESTION, DO
URBAN DISTRICTS FARE BETTER IN
THIS THAN RURAL ONES?
>> IF THERE'S MORE MONEY COMING
IN, THERE'S MORE MONEY TO PAY
FOR THE OVERHEAD,
ADMINISTRATORS, SPECIALISTS, AND
IN THEORY, MORE MONEY FLOWS DOWN
FOR PEOPLE PROVIDING THE
SERVICES.
RURAL DISTRICTS STRUGGLE MORE
WITH PROVIDING OVERHEAD COSTS
AND HAVING LEFT OVER MONEY TO
PROVIDE SERVICES NEEDED.
>> WOW.
ZAC SCHULTZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE REPORTING.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> WE TALKED WITH ZAC BEFORE THE
HOLIDAY.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK, THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL
ARGUMENTS IN WHAT'S DESCRIBED AS
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ABORTION
CASE IN NEARLY 50 YEARS.
THE HIGH COURT'S ACTION ON DOBBS
V. JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH COULD
OVERTURNERA V. WADE AND
CRIMINALIZE ABORTIONS IN THE
COUNTRY INCLUDING IN WISCONSIN.
"HERE & NOW" STUDENT JOURNALIST,
KIM LEADHOLM, SPOKE WITH
ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
ISSUE.
>> WE ARE FACING THE MOST
SERIOUS THREAT TO ABORTION
ACCESS IN THIS COUNTRY IN 50
YEARS, AND, CERTAINLY, IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> Reporter: TANYA ATKINSON
FROM WISCONSIN WITH PLANNED
PARENTHOOD SUPPORTS ABORTION
ACCESS AND GRACIE SKOGMAN WITH
WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE DOES NOT
AND WEIGHS IN ON THE HIGH COURT
CASE.
>> IT WOULD WITH CHANGE
EVERYTHING HERE IN WISCONSIN,
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD PUT
THIS BACK INTO THE STATE'S
CONTROL.
>> Reporter: THE CASE TO BE
HEARD BEFORE THE HIGH COURT IS A
CHALLENGE TO A MISSISSIPPI LAW
THAT BANS ALMOST ALL ABORTIONS
AFTER THE 15th WEEK OF
PREGNANCY.
THIS CASE COULD OVERRULE ROE V.
WADE AND ALLOW STATES TO
RESTRICT PREVIABILITY ABORTIONS.
WISCONSIN HAD A LAW IN THE BOOKS
SINCE 1849 CRIMINALIZING
ABORTION.
IT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED BECAUSE
OF ROE V. WADE, HOWEVER, IF
OVERTURNED, ABORTION COULD BE A
CRIME IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT WE BELIEVED AT WISCONSIN
RIGHT TO LIFE AND PRO-LIFE
MOVEMENT IS THERE IS NO
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO AN
ABORTION AND NO FEDERAL LAW THAT
ENSHRINES THAT RIGHT, SO WE
BELIEVE THAT THAT ROE V. WADE
DECISION WAS JUDICIAL OVERREACH.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT
PATIENTS NEED AN ABORTION IN
WISCONSIN CAN STILL TURN TO
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF WISCONSIN,
AND THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ARE CONNECTING TO
PLACES WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A
LEGAL ABORTION AND CONNECTING
SAFELY.
>> Reporter: IN TEXAS, THERE
IS A HEARTBEAT LAW MAKING
ABORTION ILLEGAL AFTER SIX
WEEKS.
THIS CASE IS CURRENTLY BEING
CONSIDERED BY THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT AND COULD HINT AT WHAT THE
COURT DECIDES IN THE DOBBS CASE.
>> THE HEARTBEAT CASE IN TEXAS
DOES NOT DIRECTLY CHALLENGE ROE
IN THE SAME WAY THAT DOBBS DOES,
BUT I BELIEVE IT WILL BE VERY
INSIGHTFUL.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE SEE AN
OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE, BUT
I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN GO SO
FAR AS TO SAY THAT I EXPECT
THAT.
>> I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE ACROSS
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING, AND I DO ANTICIPATE
AS THE ELECTIONS GROW CLOSER AND
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT WHO THEIR
ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE, THEY ARE
GOING TO BE VERY IN TUNE TO WHAT
THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, WHERE
THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES STAND
ON ACCESSING SAFE AND LEGAL
ABORTION IN WISCONSIN.
>> Reporter: A DECISION IN THE
CASE THAT DIRECTLY CHALLENGES
ROE V. WADE AND POSSIBLY
WISCONSIN ABORTION LAW IS
EXPECTED BY THE END OF JUNE.
I'M KIM LEADHOLM.
>> IT GOES BEFORE THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT NEXT WEDNESDAY.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
?
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR
"HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.