By Robin Ruehlen
C & G Staff Writer

ROSEVILLE — Students who fight on school grounds will also deliver a blow to their parents’ wallets, thanks to a new city ordinance.

On Feb.9, the Roseville City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would fine anyone who incites, participates in or is in any other way involved in a fight on school grounds, $100 for a first offense and up to $500 and community service for consecutive offenses. The municipal civil infraction ordinance covers sporting and social events held on school grounds, as well.

Roseville High School Principal Peter Hedemark said he has seen an increase in the number of fights in his building, partly due to a larger population at the high school.

“We have more younger kids in the building because of ninth-grade, and fighting tends to be something they do because they’re a little more impulsive,” Hedemark said.

Hedemark said the district’s neighbors, including Fraser, Warren Woods, Warren Consolidated Schools and Chippewa Valley Schools, have recently implemented ordinances on fighting to help curb the number of incidents, as well.

“Parents have been very supportive of the idea. Before the ordinance was passed, those who heard about it were very encouraged and expressed that they would do whatever they could to help,” he said.

In addition to the $100 fine for a first offense, a student may also be suspended from school for up to 10 days.  A second offense, in addition to the hefty $500 fine and community service, would involve a meeting with the superintendent in regards to disciplinary action.

In addition, Hedemark said, the ordinance allows for officers to issue tickets without observing the incident firsthand.

“Our staff can report it, or if we have it on film, that can all be used to support a ticket,” he said.

Hedemark attributes the majority of school fights to students accusing one another of disrespect. Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also contribute to the problem if rumors or insults are spread online.

“There’s a lot of tension for kids right now. Things are tense outside of school, too — it’s no accident that during a year of more foreclosures and unemployment, we’re having more fights at school,” he said.

“This kind of stress can make adults snap, and kids aren’t immune to feeling that stress in the home, but they have to learn better ways to handle it.”

Hedemark said he would encourage parents to call the school if they know of a potential problem brewing between students, in hopes that it can be mediated or prevented from reaching the physical level.

“They have to talk to their kids, and talk about what’s going on at school,” he said.

“Sometimes when we speak with parents after a fight, they’ll tell us that they knew several days ago that something was going on and could be a problem at school. We can’t solve every problem, but it’s a lot nicer to know ahead of time rather than after the fact.”

City Manager Steve Truman said he hasn’t heard any negative comments regarding the new ordinance so far.

“The district was very fond of it, and several members came out to thank council for passing it,” he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or (586) 279-1105.