>> 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. 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
>> SHUT IT DOWN. THAT'S WHAT THE VILLAGE OF
ALLOUEZ IS SAYING ABOUT THE
MAXIMUM SECURITY GREEN BAY GREEY 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.
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.
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 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 DESIG,
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. >> HAVDO 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. 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. 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.
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. 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 QU QK
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. 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. >> 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. 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. 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? 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.
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. THE PIKE.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT PARENTS WILL HAVE GREATER COMMUNICATION
WITH THEIR SCHOOL RIGHT FROM THE START.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS. AMY McGOVERN, THANKS VERY
MUCH. >> IN ECONOMIC NEWS, BEING
HUNGRY AND NOT KNOWING WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM IS
THE DEFINITION OF FOOD INSECURITY.
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? 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? 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. 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. JOHN WILL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB. THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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