WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Superintendent and the Food Service Director at a Warren School district have been charged after allegedly having marijuana on school grounds and driving under the influence of marijuana last weekend.
Police say that Superintendent Hollie Stange, 38, and Food Services Director Amanda Carroll, 38, smoked marijuana in Carroll's vehicle on Friday, Dec. 20, at a plaza near the corner of 9 Mile Rd. and Ryan Rd within 1,000 feet of school grounds.
The woman drove away in separate vehicles and were separately pulled over, with a weapon being found in Stange's vehicle.
Stange has been charged with the following:
- Possession of Marijuana on School Grounds, a two year felony
- Possession of a Weapon in a Weapon Free Zone, a 93-day misdemeanor
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, a 93-day misdemeanor.
Carroll has been charged with the following:
- Possession of Marijuana on School Grounds, a two year felony
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated Second Offense, a one-year misdemeanor
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated with an Occupant less than 16 years old, a one-year misdemeanor.
Both women have been placed on leave after a unanimous vote from the school board. Both woman were arraigned the day after the arrests, with an interim bond set at $5,000 cash/surety for each women. A Bond hearing is scheduled for later this afternoon.
"These allegations are deeply troubling. These women are not only responsible for their own conduct but are entrusted with the well-being of our children. Engaging in alleged illegal drug use near school property and driving under the influence is a betrayal of that trust and puts our community at significant risk. We will pursue justice to ensure accountability and uphold the safety and integrity of our schools," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido in a statement on the charges.
Below is the statement sent to parents of students at Fitzgerald:
Dear Fitzgerald Public Schools families,
The Board of Education at Fitzgerald Public Schools is committed to transparency and keeping our community informed. We wanted to provide our school community an update regarding the arrest of Superintendent Hollie Stange and the district’s Food Services Director, Amanda Carroll.
The Fitzgerald Public Schools Board of Education today voted unanimously to place District Superintendent Stange and Amanda Carroll on leave effective immediately pending our internal review and the ongoing criminal investigation. Stange and Carroll were arrested Friday, Dec. 20.
In addition, the Board has initiated the process of identifying an Interim Acting Superintendent and Food Services Director while the review and investigation continue.
The school district is cooperating with local law enforcement and will continue to do so. We will be providing additional details when they are available and appropriate to share.
At Fitzgerald Public Schools, we hold our staff members to the highest standards of professional conduct and expect them to lead by example by adhering to our school values, policies and procedures.
Please know that this incident does not reflect the vast majority of our dedicated administrators, teachers and support staff who work tirelessly each day. We remain focused on our mission of providing a world-class education to our students.
Sincerely,
Julia Yokel, President
Fitzgerald Public Schools Board of Education
