OK you people who think this is a bad idea must be either stuck in the stone age, republican, or retarded. Maybe all three. I'm a student currently enrolled in a similar program at my high school and it's truly amazing.Like all of the other credit unions and banks in high schools today my program trained us vigorously on the do's and donts of operating a credit union. When we build them in the schools they are not using taxpayer dollars. The money usually is raised or in our case the full cost is fronted by the credit union. As for giving out information and being able to access your accounts believe me that is the last thing onour minds when we're going through our daily routines of opening and closing the branch. It also develops your children in to mature adults because they are being shown how the real world works. How theres a set system of checks and balances and that in order for everything to work properly everyone has to work together. So for Maidinusa you dumbass, you need to get your facts straight before you start having a bitch fit over s hit you have no idea about. I've been running my high school credit union now for 3 years and we've never been robbed, or had an issue with accessing information that we have no business looking at. If you don't like that idea then move or shut the fcukup!

MadeinUSA (and a few others). You are making reference to BHCCU as a bank. Blackhawk is a not for profit credit union "owned" by members. All funds go back to the members in forms of higher dividends and competitive rates. Banks are owned by shareholders, are for profit, have paid board of directors and many took bailout dollars. Credit unions have a responsibility to their communities and this is a great opportunity to do so. In other words, please do not confuse ANY credit union with a bank. For more information on credit unions visit www.ncua.gov or www.cuna.org.

Best of luck to all of our credit unions in this community.

You could probably get a moving loan at BCCU.

"I can't believe I still live in this town"

Neither can I...need help moving?

The kids working at the bank can see your information already, what's the difference having them at another branch?

I respect the idea of BHCCU to encourage youth saving. Having said that, I really don't like the idea of exposing my information to a bunch of kids.
Why couldn't they set up a system strictly for the students only? An option that could have been set-up quickly and inexpensively.

You guys are funny. Please keep posting, it helps to break up my day.

As if the schools didn't have enough to worry about! Bomb scares and such. Now, they can be robbed at gun point!!! Isn't that a nice thought! I think it is ridiculous to have a bank in a school setting. More chances for violence to enter our schools. Just my opinion.

There was information out about Craig doing this just last spring, not back in some article in 2008. The students weren't selected just on the first to start working, parents knew, students knew, etc. As for other schools in 2005 this was started in Northern Virginia, Stewart High School was also partnered with a local credit union for 10 years before adding the in school branch, Gesa Credit Union of Washington opened their first High School branch in 2000 at Richland High School, additional High School branches in 2002 and 2005. Its in a number of other states as well. They have had great results with these in school branches, done great things for the students, employment, money management skills, and the promotions the students put on. The kids picked worked hard for these jobs, the results in other communities are positive. There is no reason to pre judge this program as negative if other schools have so many positives.

Huh???

Morons come in all types, teenagers and adults alike. I worked in a bank previously and know first hand what types of people work anywhere, including ADULTS that I would never trust with my account if I had a choice. There are good teens and bad teens just like adults. I would rather see teens get hands on experience at a younger age than not. I think we are pretty safe in assuming that they are not just going to have all the access immediately and will be well trained in what they are doing. These kids are everyone's future - if you don't start trusting in them now...good luck to ya! If you're always looking for the negatives, you'll get it everytime.

Hey Firefly, Wisconsin is second only to Michigan in operating banks in high schools according to the Capital Times. This idea was mentioned in one newspaper article in 2008? If financial literacy is soooo important to our students and children, then why wouldn't the state school board adopt financial literacy classes as part of the curiculum instead of having it as an elective. But I guess this way it is a great growth opportunity for BHCCU. As far as BHCCU stating that they do not expect to make money on the deal, look at the other banks in the high schools in the state, ex: Educators CU in Kenosha High School, has over 250 student members and 1.1 million in student money from their high school branch. You don't think they are making money on that 1.1 million by lending it out or investing it????? I just wish the school board would have thought over maybe a curiculum additon for financial literacy than jumping into a 3-year contract with a private business.

As a parent and taxpayer - I love the idea!

This isn't a new idea, its been done at a number of schools across the US. The concept in Janesville did not go unannounced, this is not the first time there was an article about it. The kids were screened for being trustworthy like all bank employees, probably more so, just because they are in high school does not make them unreliable. They are, in my opinion, less likely to say what is in the "Jones' account" than than whoever is working at the bank and dated one of the Jones' in the past. High school students work in banks off campus, why not on? This is not something that should be blown up. It should be praised that the schools are willing to make a step forward to teach children how to manage money and have access to it. Its better this generation not end up like all the previous drowning in debt and having no idea what a "savings" account is for. I say way to go BHCCU and to the kids working there, ignore all the people that are talking against the idea.

Hee hee hee

The Gazette dealt with this in an article in March 2008, which included these items:

"The arrangement is based on a successful program in the Appleton schools, said Steve Huth, coordinator of vocational education...

"The credit union doesn't expect to make money on the deal, a BHCCU official said ...

"We look for these branches to become living financial labs, giving students new learning opportunities," Bob Carmichael, credit union CEO, said in a news release....

"Huth said the opportunity to open branches was offered to all local financial institutions. At least seven expressed interest, and two ultimately made written proposals. School officials chose Blackhawk Community Credit Union...

"The agreement between Blackhawk Community Credit Union and the district is set up for three years with an option for renewal. Either side could dissolve it with a 60-day notice, Huth said.

-- Gazette reporter Frank Schultz

It's sad that the first thing you all think of when you think of the children of Janesville is that they are drug dealing dirtbags made from the scum of the earth! What is wrong with you people! Janesville has many bright young people.

Crunch - Why?

What else would you like in the article. It's not the gazette's fault you can't comprehend simple articles. I'd blame your parents for that.

Kid's need all the exposure to making good money decisions as they can get! I am a bank manager and you would not believe the amount of people that do not know how to handle a simple checking account. Many people don't know how to balance their checkbooks or use a register. It is very sad!

In response to Pete's "fiasco" at the bank. Contrary to popular belief, banks do not carry millions of dollars in their vault...maybe just a few hundred thousand depending on the volume of clients. ALL banks have procedures when a client wants to withdraw a large sum. You usually have to wait a few days so that they can order more cash for you. If you took a quarter or half of their reserves, then the other people won't be able to make their withdrawls and cash their paychecks. I think you blew this WAY out of proportion.

"Last time I checked, students didn't go to the stadiums to learn!"

Wrong! School sports are learning experiences for those participating, just like music and art.

What I am mostly mad about this is that it was not put out for bid. Why not let banks / CU's bid on this? The school district could have made money on this rather than just showing favortism to 1 business. we all can agree the economy sucks & businesses are tight right now but think of the revenue that could be gained from this. How about sponsors for other stuff - like naming rights for the gym, scoreboards, etc. Little League park has had field sponsors for years.

Hey Zoom: Last time I checked, students didn't go to the stadiums to learn! Actually, maybe the school board should sell out to Miller Lite or Marbolo Cigarettes to advertise their products down at Monterrey Stadium.....hhhhmmm more opportunity there.

This has to be Doyle's fault.

How much money did this cost tax payers? NOTHING. Sheesh. Move on. What's next, are you going to complain about businesses advertising at the stadiums and sports fields too?

opps only.

Miss Katie Craig has it all the kids can go to the school store and buy coffee slushies etc when we had school store you olny could buy supplies. What will they think of next hmm...

What are they learning in 40 minutes of tellering that they couldn't have learned in a classroom setting or getting a job? This project is all about the show and to get JSB name in bulletins all over the state saying we are doing it! Keep up with the jones's!

I do need a hug:-)

Localmatters: I did not say you were "privy" as you supposedly quoted me.....you must have had first hand knowledge. I follow the school board minutes closely as a taxpayer and never heard about this! I stay invlovled in JSB actions since they use my money to spend. As a taxpayer, I want to see results published. I think JSB made a decision without considering all the results. I am glad for these 6 students that get an opportunity the other students don't get! I am supposed to be happy and positive for these 6 students and I am, good for them, but are we constructive with the amount of money that was spent here. I feel sorry for all the other local business owners in Janesville that don't get the same treatment BHCCU received from the school board!

flowers15 -- I'm not "privy" to anything. School board minutes are available to anyone. Just stop down to the ESC.

Flowers15 - I think you need a hug.

Localmatters: you must have first hand knowledge of the educational benefits and the school board minutes. I have watched this develop also and the minutes from the school board don't do it justice to keep the public aware. One thing I would like to see is the survey from the student body, staff and administration of an interest in this program before it was implemented? Or did JSB just look at one school and see it happen and wanted to do it as well.

crazcass: You must not run a business in town, because if you did, you would want the same opportunity BHCCU just received from the school district. Young adults and involve money equals future profits from these kids that will some day borrow money, etc. Where do you think they will go for it when they already have a student account set up at BHCCU? I wish I could bring my business into the schools at the taxpayers expense. This is not over the top. Janesville needs to bring their heads back in out of the clouds, we are not the ritzy city most people think we are, where does all the money come from!

flowers15 -- This isn't the first we've heard of it. It was in the original plans and discussed at length during school board meetings. It is also a part of the school board minutes. Pick up a copy of the minutes. You'll see that this is a part of community outreach for the local credit union. The news release is very vague but I know there are educational benefits built into this program as well. Very progressive IMHO.

Did anyone stop to think why we have heard nothing about this until now! I do not want my child subjected to a personal business opportunity in their school. There is an elective class students can take to learn about money management, or maybe they could get a job and learn or how about their parents taking them to their own financial institution and opening up an account to teach their child about money management. Don't think for one second that this is not a huge opportunity for one financial institution. I think we should get rid of all the custodians and teach our children how to clean the schools that are so nicely provided to them. This is a skill every teenager should learn, cleaining! This was all about the money and it benefits 6 students and BHCCU!

ARE THESE STUDENTS CONSIDERED UNION EMPLOYEES?
AND ARE THEY REQIURED TO PAY DUES?
BCCU IS UAW AFTER ALL

crazcass -- well put. Best of luck to all involved.

I am sure Pete would have taken a certified bank check. Most money is electronic anyway. Pete, you did the right thing by calling the police. I am sure the students screened for these positions are probably more responsible and honest then some adults I know. I also have my own BHCCU story, but that is not the issue here. I am sure that BHCCU did this not for the kids, but for their own benefit. Neat idea anyway.

really people, get over it.
Pete- the reason most credit unions and banks wont allow you to withdraw that money is because they more than likely don't have that much on hand to give out, and if one person comes in and wants a lump sum of money like that, then others would want to do the same. The reason they wanted you to apply or fill out a form is so that they can make sure that they have the money on hand. I bet you'd be ticked if some cranky person came into the bank, made a huge SCENE like you did, got that much money, and their wasn't enough for your greedy self.
Maybe you should go back to school and take a field trip to the bank so you can learn how it works.

"As of now any member of BHCCU has their information moved to a property that does not have the up to date equipment to watch their personal information."

Do you have first hand knowledge of the processes and equipment to be used in the school credit unions?

It is apparent that BHCCU and the school board have taken it upon themselves to enter into business operations inside taxpayer owned property. Is this legal? As a member of a bank or credit union, I am aware of cameras watching my and every worker in the banks movement to make sure all information is safe at all times. As of now any member of BHCCU has their information moved to a property that does not have the up to date equipment to watch their personal information. Would it be OK to let Blackhawk tech-nursing students have access to my personal medical information to help students learn about becoming a nurse? Could that be next? It may certainly help students learn. I am sure that the nursing students are trust worthy and that our clinics and hospitals would have our best interests at heart. In this day and age we really don't have to worry that someone would steal our account information!!!??? BHCCU, the school board, and our best students could never make a serious mistake?

Who made this decision? Who will tell you how sorry they are that all of your personal information has been compromised? Maybe the customers of BHCCU will all learn a lot more than the students will.
Do these students work for BHCCU??

Anything that teaches real life money management skills is a good thing.

Yikes, I was reading some of the comments.....it seems like BHCCU and the school board have spent alot of money to benefit a whole 6 STUDENTS!!! Why not do a work study with banks and let the students go work at the credit union instead of wasting tax payer dollars on construction of these branches in the schools, since it was conveniently done during referendum....HHMMM If the purpose was to teach money management skills to students, wouldn't it have made more sense to do it in the classroom, where there are 30 students learning instead of 6!

Wow, it is nice to know that the school district is contracting business with a private entity to create potential growth for that credit union. Must be nice to have a new business solicit list of what maybe 3000 students and 400 staff (just guessing at numbers). Thanks school board for helping one business and leaving how many others in the dark! Wish I had that kind of political power!

Roadmaster: The students were working in the credit union environment. I have no doubt these students are top notch kids and probably are very efficient at tellering. I am concerned once you take them out of their controlled setting in the bank building versus putting them into a high school setting where there is only one credit union employee supervising and many of their peers influencing the environment they are now in.

Banks in high schools? Are you serious?

Why don't you put in nail saloons and tanning booths while you are at it...

I agree with Simon, the Gazette should contact the school district officials in charge of this project to put to rest some of these concerns. We are all in support of helping students learn and understand they completed training, but we must be rest assured of our financial security in this day and age of computer hacking and fraud! I did not receive any letter regarding "scrubbing" my account, this must have only been a concern for school employees in the high schools??????

These students have been training (working) at the regular credit union offices throughout the summer. Also the credit unions have had student workers in the past without problems.

who paid for the credit union facilities to be built inside the schools? The taxpayers or the credit union?

JetSki -- the facilities were approved by the school board and were completely funded by BHCCU.

Staff members received a letter at the end of last school year that gave them information regarding scrubbing their account. Also, Blackhawk isn't just throwing us students in the btanch and letting us run free. We went through extensive training over the summer. Also, we have a branch manager with us when we are working at all times shall a crisis arise.

I wish I was a student, the lines are probably shorter at the schools, faster service, too.
Every time I go into that credit union there are lines and not enough tellers.

Anyone know how all the teachers, administration and staff were notified by BHCCU of being able to "scrub" information on their account before these branches were opened. Also, what about the general public, I know I did not receive notice from BHCCU that I had to "scrub" information on my account with them. I am concerned about my account information being exposed to young adults in the schools. Oath of Office or not, it cannot control what goes on in the schools. Schools were not designed to give businesses opportunities to solicit a captive audience! Schools are a place for learning!

Cpaese, I am not questioning your or any of the other students' ethics or responsibility as a teller at one of these branches. I am worried about your safety if knowing you have access to bank information, would another student approach or threaten you knowing you have access and can gain access to private information. Also, are all the students bonded? Is this not something that you could have learned in the classroom with a mock setup of a bank? I am worried about other businesses who might find reasons to get into our schools at tax payers cost.

I am one of the student tellers at the Craig branch, and trust me when I say confidentiality is one of the things that was stressed to us extensively. We are all under oath of office, and I speak for all six of us ( 3 at Parker and 3 at Craig) when I say we understand the responsibility of keeping our members' information confidential; students, teachers, staff alike. I know for a fact all of the students that were hired are extremely responsible and would not want to give up this amazing opportunity we've been given by Blackhawk just to tell a friend/parent, etc. confidential account information.

Also, on a side note; employees of the School District of Janesville have the choice of "scrubbing" their account information. This means any teller transacting on the member's account cannot see balances, social security numbers, etc.

The Gazette should contact the proper person at each high school (John Zimmerman and Sarah VanBerkum) to add pertinent information that should not have been left out of the article in the first place. Then, many of the public's questions would be answered by the appropriate person, hopefully, alleviating all this speculation.

Pete....whata waste of a police officer's time....they have more important things to do. No wonder we do not have enough to catch speeders and drug dealers. They are babysitting your money. Not like it was gone. Hire a lawyer next time.

I think the kids are bonded, which means if they did anything to your account (withdraw or steal money) you get your money back.
Pete-maybe if you paid more attention to your statements, it wouldn't take 2 years to figure out you didn't read your statement and there were changes to fees.
Jetski-I agree, I wonder if these kids will follow the oath of office that says they can't discuss balances and personal info. I see a kid going home and telling Mom or Dad what the "Jones's" have in their account.

These students working in these branches could be wonderful students, but if threatened by another student to steal banking information could open up quite a mess. Hopefully, BHCCU was smart and applied to have a credit union bond for each one of these students if they are acting as employees of the credit union. Wondering if they are in the same union as the tellers at BHCCU? I know I would not want any of my information within the school system, these computers and information security are meant to be in the banking facility building, not in a school where kids can outsmart adults on computer access.

I am curious if the computers used for these credit unions at the schools are linked to the network at BHCCU?? I would not want unbonded high school students being able to look up my account at will. ESPECIALLY, if I am a teacher or in administration in the school district. This could be dangerous. I also am wondering where the approval came from to solicit my children in their school to one certain institution. Not really sure how our children should be looked at for business opportunity in the schools! Also, did any of our tax dollars go to building the facilities for BHCCU to come into the schools or was it completely funded by BHCCU? This would be interesting to know. It seems to have been kept quite quiet in the news until now!

Pete I had similiar problem not that much but they refused to give me my money alsountil I made a big seen and they finally gave me my money and I'm very happy at Parker credit union and they are alot more friendly there the woman that are on milwaukee street are so rude!