WARREN, Mich. – Warren police said they have responded to more than 100 calls to the Dorothy M. Busch Library on Ryan Road in recent months.
What kind of calls? Fights, brawls, and groups of students disrupting visitors to the library and neighboring businesses.
As a result, the library has been forced to close its doors during specific hours to control the problem—closing from 2:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on school days and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on half-days.
Business owners in the area have also been caught in the fray, reporting fights that spill over into their parking lots, sometimes involving groups as large as a dozen students at a time.
The conflicts have escalated to the point where visitors and even library staff have been injured.
Police have been called weekly over the last two years — the chaos typically peaking after school hours.
“The runs to the library and to the neighboring businesses are ridiculous,” said Warren Council Member President Angela Rogensues. “The police runs, according to our deputy police commissioner, are more than all the five school districts in Warren combined.”
Warren police say they have not had problems since the library changed its hours, but efforts to address the problem long-term are ongoing.
With input from the school board, police department, library commission, and city officials, the interim superintendent has implemented measures like requiring student IDs, but the impact has been temporary at best.
A letter was sent out to parents last week, which garnered a response.
“We will continue to strengthen our partnership with the Warren Library Commission, Warren Police Department, and the Warren Mayor’s office with any future incidents involving inappropriate outdoor behavior at the library or similar public spaces. This means that the school will continue to take appropriate actions in accordance with our behavior policies to address issues that may disrupt or have disrupted the community or violate our student conduct guidelines. We understand the importance of maintaining positive relationships between our students and the local community. We are confident that, with your continued support, we can guide our students to make better choices both on and off campus. We ask that you discuss the expectations of appropriate behavior with your child and encourage them to be respectful of the rules in all settings. This is a shared responsibility between school, home, and community.”
Laurie Fournier, Interim Superintendent of Fitzgerald Public Schools
A regular library commission meeting is scheduled for the evening of Jan. 16.
