Safety Concerns, School Changes Discussed at Digital Learning Center Neighborhood Meeting
Residents of the Dales neighborhood met with school officials for a follow-up meeting on Wednesday at the Digital Learning Center.
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Residents of the Dales neighborhood met with school officials Wednesday night to continue a conversation started last month focusing on concerns over the Digital Learning Center.
The public forum was held at the Ferndale school at 427 Allen - formerly known as the Taft Education Center but which became the DLC this fall - and provided an overview of concerns expressed at the last meeting, an update on some recent changes at the school and an opportunity for residents to share additional comments.
The first meeting, held Nov. 15, was initiated by neighbors - including Ferndale City Council member Melanie Piana - who have had concerns over recent criminal activity that happened outside of the school.
Last December, a student was shot in the leg outside the school in what police called a "robbery gone bad." This past October, several students were arrested after a fight outside the school. A gang-related fight was reported the following week.
At both meetings, the residents also discussed plans for forming an organized Dales neighborhood group. Find more information on the group here.
Closed campus among new changes at school
Stephanie Hall, director of community relations for Ferndale Public Schools, went over concerns expressed at the last meeting and answered some questions that were asked at that time.
For example, residents had previously asked about how many students at the school are from Ferndale. Of the DLC's 632 full-time students, 56 are from Ferndale, Hall said.
Regarding the number of "court-ordered" students, or students on probation, Hall said the current number is 45 students (7 percent).
DLC director Renee Heard also discussed some changes at the school that were made in response to resident concerns. These include:
- As of Monday, Dec. 3, the school is a closed campus; students cannot leave for lunch.
- Students are no longer allowed to enter the school after 11 a.m.
- Students must have their student ID visible on them at all times.
- New advisory period held each morning for academic case managers to check-in with students.
- Students who leave during the school day are not permitted back into the building.
Residents express concerns
Residents expressed additional concerns for the district to look into, including how to find out if a crime in the neighborhood was related to students at the school; questions about how the school benefits the Ferndale community directly; and concerns about students who appeared to be "casing the neighborhood."
Other residents pointed out that the people these neighbors are noticing may not be students at the DLC. "I think people are making assumptions," one resident stated.
Officer Farris, the police liaison officer assigned to the DLC, shared updated crime statistics during the meeting, explaining that crime is "markedly down" in the city overall when comparing Nov. 2011 to Nov. 2012. He also responded to residents' questions about specific incidents they've noticed recently.
One resident asked for a report showing crime specifically in the Dales neighborhood, and another resident asked for a 10- to 20-year comparison of crime data surrounding the school from before and after the school opened.
The next steps
Ferndale Schools Superintendent Gary Meier thanked the residents for their participation and said he wants to keep the lines of communication open.
"We want to be as sensitive to the issues you've addressed as possible," he said, noting that the district will respond to the remaining pending questions. "We want [the school] to be safe for kids just as we want it to be safe for the community."
To help prioritize the issues discussed, residents at the meeting were given numbered stickers to place on the lists of concerns to indicate the areas they are most concerned with.
In the meantime, a "Who do I call?" list was provided to residents with phone numbers for the DLC and police desk, and neighbors were encouraged to get involved at the school by volunteering, or contacting the school for possible help from student volunteers if they know someone in the neighborhood who needs help with leaf raking or other tasks.
'A real opportunity to be empowered'
Hall said after the meeting that she was glad to see residents trust the district to listen to their concerns and said the forums have been a great way to get many people involved. "This allows for a lot more information to be collected," she said.
Councilwoman Piana said after the meeting that she was encouraged to see the school had already started taking action to make some changes based on feedback. "That is an immediate action that came out of the first meeting," she said.
She said neighbors have "a real opportunity to be empowered" with these meetings, and pointed out that the Dales neighborhood group will focus on other issues too, and offer social activities.
"It's not just all about solving problems, it's about getting to know people," Piana said. "When you know your neighbors you strengthen the overall health of the neighborhood."
Anyone who notices any suspicious activity in their neighborhood is asked to call 911 if it is an emergency or the non-emergency line of the Ferndale Police Dept. at (248) 541-3650.
You can find more information on upcoming meetings at the Dales Facebook page.
Steven Kuzmanovich
10:22 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
CLOSE IT, NOW !
Frank T. J. Mackie
12:26 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
That is a thoughtful and intelligent comment.
Presley Obannon
1:10 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I agree with Steven Kuzmanovich.......Close it now! Add me to your list of thoughtful and intelligent comment contributors Frank......
Frank T. J. Mackie
1:31 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
You are officially added Presley. Perhaps if either of you could articulate WHY you want it closed, your posts would have a bit more validity.
I simply can't believe that my neighbors don't want the best for these students. The school has clearly stated that they are getting rid of the problem students, and yet people still want it closed....don't you realize that we live off of 8 mile on the Detroit border? Whether the school is closed or not, the problems of Detroit will still bleed into our neighborhood in some way, just based on simple geography.
DPS has clearly failed these students (along with their families in many cases, admittedly), and our district has stepped in to try and get these kids on track, so that our community won't suffer AS MUCH in the future. Knowing that the problem students are being dismissed, the current students WANT a better life and are working hard to get there, and the staff and administration is working diligently to make them realize their goals, how can anybody view this program as a bad thing?
The school won't save the world or anything, but it will have some level of positive impact, and to me that is good enough reason to keep it open. I am ashamed of my fellow neighbors in "The Dales" that so quickly want to shun those in our bordering communities.
Ferndale_1986
11:06 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
@ Frank T. J. Mackie
"DPS has clearly failed these students (along with their families in many cases ....
Frank T.J.Mackie, ever hear of a concept called "personal responsibility"?
clueless bleeding heart liberals, all the same, they're like broken records........
by the way, tell us what street you live on in Ferndale.
do you live near DLC/Taft ?????????
Presley Obannon
1:56 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Frank, try to convince the "good" citizens of Ferndale that live in the neighborhood surrounding that school that they want the best for these students. Try to convince the victims that have been robbed or had their homes broken into by these students. Try to convince these neighbors that it is safe for their children to walk among these students when they are committing these heinous crimes. I can guarantee you that if the votes of wanting these students compared to the votes of not wanting them were added up.......it would be a landslide vote of NOT! Ashamed of your neighbors in the Dales?? Get a clue and take a reality pill Frank.
Frank T. J. Mackie
2:30 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
A reality pill? A paranoid & delusional man is convinced that students are casing the neighborhood, breaking into homes, committing other "heinous crimes and that children are no longer safe (with absolutely no evidence to back up his outlandish claims), is telling me I need a reality pill?
That's gold Presley, gold.
Erik Roberts
7:45 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I am a "good citzen of Ferndale that live in the neighborhood" two houses away to be exact. I DO want what is best for the students. Without an educated population we are doomed. We can't keep up with this "they're from Detroit so screw em" mentality. I am encouraged by the decisions made by the district. I do have to say the school is on "thin ice" with me but lets tighten the reigns and see what happens.
Bart
3:42 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Everyone wants a safe neighborhood. Any crime is too much. These kids deserve an education and there are resources here that are showing promise. The police officers are saying that crime related to this school is neither unusual nor alarming. It seems there was a (mostly) quiet majority that is ready to accept these facts, embrace (or at least accept) the school, and move on to working together to improve the safety of everyone.
Let's get to work.
Laura Berger
9:23 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I really appreciate the comments by Frank, Erik, and Bart. I'd rather we support efforts to help all of our schools and the kids that attend them than give up on any of them. It's the only way to a better future for the kids, and our community.
Presley Obannon
7:17 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
This has nothing to do with Detroit. It has everything to do with crime. Bart is saying the police say "crime related to this school is neither unusual nor alarming?" Bart, you are wrong. Ask yourself this.....why would a school dedicate a police officer to it full time if things weren't out of control? The rest of you that are also delusional, do this.....obtain crime statistics related to the school and the surrounding neighborhood. After you do this (and actually read it) come back on this site and continue to believe that my posts aren't valid (as Frank states).
Nathan Schoenfeld
7:53 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
I agree with Erik that we can not keep up this "they're from Detroit so screw em" mentality. This is one of the major things that continues to hinder recovery both in the city of Detroit and also the surrounding areas. We have enough other economic challenges going on so let's not kick out the legs for education. Give it a chance and till it's proven that the crime going on in the area is from the "students" there really is not a valid argument to close it down and get it "out of my backyard" The district was proactive and with the reality of the times we live in to place an officer there. If there was not one in place everyone would have been screaming for one. It's time to come together as a community and make things better by working together and have a sense of community and family that has faded away in this county and not the me 1st way of thinking.
Bart
10:03 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
I was working under the assumption that our police force is trustworthy. If you knew other data-based facts were available and contradictory to what they were saying why didn't you push them at the meeting? That's what it was for. If the officers are providing false information then call them on it. The neighborhood deserves to know the truth from all sides.
Bart
10:03 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
I was working under the assumption that our police force is trustworthy. If you knew other data-based facts were available and contradictory to what they were saying why didn't you push them at the meeting? That's what it was for. If the officers are providing false information then call them on it. The neighborhood deserves to know the truth from all sides.
Bart
10:12 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
And let me just say I am not delusional. The stories of crime are scary. If anyone tries to run through my yard...well, I wish them well because its not going to be pretty. However, I believe my sidewalks are open to all people of all ages. If we're not focused on the right cause we'll never get the desired effect.
Ferndale_1986
10:21 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
THESE RULES SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE LONG AGO >>>
DLC director Renee Heard also discussed some changes at the school that were made in response to resident concerns. These include:
As of Monday, Dec. 3, the school is a closed campus; students cannot leave for lunch.
Students are no longer allowed to enter the school after 11 a.m.
Students must have their student ID visible on them at all times.
New advisory period held each morning for academic case managers to check-in with students.
Students who leave during the school day are not permitted back into the building.
detroit darkroom
10:54 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Was not aware of this meeting, though we are in the neighborhood. Why does Ferndale owe its tax dollars to run a school that completely benefits those not from Ferndale? Obviously the school district is in it for something.....at our cost, not only monetarily, but also in our peace of mind, safety and security. Might as well just take our money and find a building over by the
son to be Meijers
detroit darkroom
10:58 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
^soon to be Meijers in Detroit and run this school, and close Taft if it wont be used for our community. Sell it, change it to artists studios.