There seem to always be "incidents" at that location.

Hopefully I'm not the only person wondering if any of these students even live in Ferndale. Can someone please refresh my memory on the positive reasons that these alternative schools exist in Ferndale, ,besides money. On a side note, does anyone know the cost/benefit of Ferndale paying for a full-time officer at the alternative school? I'm assuming the city must make a nice profit to justify the overhead,,just curious.

Who pushed the pixels first?

I feel for the residents living across the street from the school. Its sad, each day, I drive by watch mobs of students cross 8 Mile. A week ago, I was driving in my car, two young men were walking in the street. I beeped and was told F > < > # # U. The school needs to be closed or we face losing decent residence along those streets. I wonder, can a city pass a charter to limit Charter Schools? Now, some woman from West Bloomfield wants to open a military style charter school. We are becoming the home of the needy.

I live on Flowerdale and am more affraid in my end of town during the day, rather then at night because of the DAMN school! close it already! It's does nothing for Ferndale and The Dales except bring it down.

We have to remember that crime happens everywhere, from the low end neighborhoods to even the nicest of neighborhoods. If not for the alternative school, these students would most likely not be in school at all. They will be sent to live a life of crime, one that the school can help them get away from. Children need to be taught, and taking away the resources and tools to teach them in one area will only lead them to another area. We should be grateful for the facility, as it is one way to help students strive and teach them to do the right thing.

Concerned

Concerned....you are being sarcastic right? These "students" are widgets with $$ on them and they have been destroying that neighborhood for years...

Amen Fedup. They've had their chance before. This school just proves that they haven't learned their lesson. Legitimate gangs being encouraged to attend Ferndale schools.

What can we do? How do we shut these schools down? The community center is horrible. I take my daughter to that park and it is full of teenagers who I am pretty sure are not ferndale residents are always hanging all over the place, Sitting on the swings, being loud and obnoxious, swearing. It's a childrens park! I am fed up! something needs to be done. Maybe it's time to start going to city council meetings?

Whether or not you "welcome" or "accept" it in the city, it's there. It's no "excuse." School is likely more rehabilitating than allowing them to engage in criminal activity and get caught up in the system. Our system is not exactly as rehabilitating as it is aimed to be. Location is a key factor in the commission of crime, and the school may be the only attempt they have to remove the students from their criminal surroundings.

I'm sure these children have not lived the easiest of lives. It has to be as difficult for them to go to school as it is for others to have them in the neighborhood. Instead of turning your back on them, which is most likely how they ended up in this school because they have been shooed off and turned away, embrace it. Perhaps a more cohesive community would help to deter crime and criminal activity. Encourage a better and healthier lifestyle rather than giving up on them because of their past and where they came from.

Here's the million dollar question......how do we get the community/city to focus on this issue? Good schools, safer community, and proud residents directly correlate to stronger property values, and provide more tax revenue to the city? Can someone please tell me if the profits from these alternative schools are more of a benefit to our community than the positives noted above? I will acknowledge that I'm am ignorant to the facts of this issue but it would be nice to have this problem readdressed to residents. I think it's time for the people or companies running these schools to address the community. We needs statistics that are easy to follow and provide basic facts. Please tell us why your schook is a good fit for our community and why your school deserves to stay in Ferndale. These schools will never attract residents to buying homes, and isbt good schools a major selling point what brings in the type of residents we want? I highly doubt someone lucky enought to own a home next to these schools purchased the home thinking "what a great school to send my troubled teenager to." I need there are positive aspects but I'd like an informed person to enlighten me.

One more question, statistically, does Ferndale have a similar number of alternative schools as other communities with the same populations and demographics?

It's all about money. Superintendent Gary Meir and the present Board of Ed. sold the once-excellent Ferndale School District's soul for money. The naivety of many residents and their desire to be politically correct allowed them to get away with this tragedy. Now we have citizen apathy because so many of our city's children attend school in other communities.

To me the saddest and most terrifying part is there is a daycare in the building for the young mothers and all it takes is one accident. I know a few Ferndale residents who go there, they had to leave high school for different reasons and are legitimately trying to get their diplomas. Unfortunately they are the minority there. Most of the students are just there to be anywhere other then home or street, but the kids that are really trying to get back on track are given sorry excuses of classes, over full rooms, and beyond dangerous classmates. The kids who drive have to worry about being jacked and the kids who walk have to worry about being robbed... at both Taft anad the high school!
I have students at FHS and all of these lock downs are terrifying and the worst part is they are necessary. Street shooters don't care who they hit as long as they feel better and It scares the hell out of me that my kids are around it. Yes violence is everywhere, no there is nothing we can do about random acts, but why do we have to invite it into our backyard and increase our chances of something happening. There was a time when Oak Park school district had the worst Reputation and now they seem like the safer option.

Seems like a lot going on.. Would u believe this is same school the FHS athletic director and new girl coach wanted our girls team to go and practice late eveings over at that school... When team had no problem useing there on school over the year....

Concerned..."embrace it?" really? There are NO Ferndale kids at either Taft or at "University High School" The district needs the dollars per pupil to pay for their excessive staff, legacy costs and rapidly expanding general fund. There will be a tragic act of violence at one or both of those schools....why do we have to "embrace" such a dangerous environment for dollars that don't benefit Ferndale or our kids?

Did anyone attend the meeting yersterday? If so, please let us know if this issue was addressed.

EVERYONE WITH THEIR NEGATIVE COMMENTS GET OVER IT! EVERYWHERE YOU GO THERE'S GONNA BE GANGS, WHETHER IT'S WHITE GANGS,BLACK,HISPANIC,ETC PEOPLE FIGHT ALMOST EVERYDAY. YOU CANNOT PUT ALL OF THOSE KIDS THAT GO THERE INTO 1 BOX OR CATEGORY. IT'S ACTUALLY KIDS THERE THAT DON'T FIGHT AND BE ABSURD EVERYDAY, TRYING TO MAKE UP AND GET THEIR EDUCATION'S SO THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT. FERNDALE'S DLC IS A GREAT HELP TO THE COMMUNITY.

I cannot believe all of the ignorant comments. Come to the DLC and we'll be glad to give you a tour. These posts disgust me. You community members obviously have absolutely no idea what really goes on at the the DLC or who really attends the DLC. I'm there every day and have NEVER felt threatened or scared. Based on these comments I'd rather be in the DLC than walking by your house.

Maybe come to the community meeting on Thursday 10/15 at 630. Or will you be too scared to come into the building?