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Nine Solon teens arrested at PTA fund-raiser
(by Sue Hoffman - February 03, 2011)
Nine Solon teens arrested at PTA fund-raiser
By SUE HOFFMAN
Several misconceptions have arisen regarding Solon Council of PTAs' recent fund-raiser at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, according to Solon school and PTA officials. Ten teens, including nine from Solon, were arrested for underage drinking during the event, and some of them also were charged with drug violations.
"It's a family event," Tammy Strom, the school district's director of communication services, said last week about the annual trip to the resort. It is not a school function or a PTA-chaperoned event, she said.
"You get a discounted rate," she said, by having many families participate. Kalahari returns a certain portion of the sales to the PTA Council, which uses the money for scholarships for graduating Solon High School seniors.
"It's a great way to earn money for scholarships," Ms. Strom said. This year's event raised $3,200. In the four years that Solon families have participated, about $12,000 has been raised.
This year, nearly 300 rooms were rented by Solon families, with some 1,200 people participating. The discounted rate for a standard room was $109, including admission for four to the indoor water park.
While the 10 teens charged with violations made the news locally, in Sandusky and as far away as Chicago, teens are not common at the event, Ms. Strom said. "Many more second-graders were there than high schoolers."
"Typically, very few teenagers are there," PTA Council President Lisa Crowl said. "You might see 20 total."
Ms. Strom said, while the first group of teenagers to be apprehended had gome to Kalahari with parents, the second group was in a room that an 18-year-old had reserved by telephone, and they had not gone with parents.
According to the Erie County Sheriff's Department, two were arrested after firefighters were called to Kalahari at 12:13 a.m. Jan. 24 on a report that a 15-year-old Solon girl possibly had alcohol poisoning. The girl was taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center. She and an 18-year-old male from Solon were charged with underage drinking.
Two hours later, the sheriff's department was called regarding teenagers in another room when a hotel guest reported smelling marijuana. Eight were charged in that room, according to Capt. Paul Sigsworth.
Five Solon boys, all 17, were charged with underage drinking and possession of marijuana. One of them also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. A Twinsburg girl, 17, and a Solon girl, 16, were charged with underage drinking and possession of marijuana, and an 18-year-old male was charged with underage drinking and possession of marijuana.
Ms. Strom and Mrs. Crowl said they were surprised that 18-year-olds could book a room at Kalahari.
"I had no idea a student could rent a room," Ms. Strom said. She said the PTA is working with Kalahari to raise the minimum age for booking a room to 21 or older during next year's event.
"The Solon community does not want this to mar this event," Ms. Strom said. She said the incidents involving teens are "not a reason to disband a fun family event."
"Kalahari has asked us to come back," Mrs. Crowl said. "It's unfortunate what happened. Thankfully, no one was more seriously hurt." It was "unfortunate that parents weren't parenting," she said.
"Normally, it's a win-win situation," she said about the event. "Rooms are $70 cheaper than if you booked online. The majority of kids are young children."
The timing is perfect, Mrs. Crowl said. The Solon School District has a professional day on the fourth Monday of January, and, with the cold weather at this time of the year, families have a wonderful time at Kalahari, she said. "It's 80 degrees indoors, and it's a great facility."
Families arrive on a Sunday and stay until Monday.
Reflecting on the incident, both Ms. Strom and Mrs. Crowl said it has some important messages.
"It was very disappointing," Mrs. Crowl said, "but it's time to raise this discussion in the suburbs. We need to stop acting like it's not my kid. We need to address it."
"We're not shocked that teenagers make poor decisions about alcohol and drugs," Ms. Strom said. "That goes on in every community." What the incident does stress is the importance of such programs as Students Against Destructive Decisions, which is PTA supported, and other efforts to educate students, she said.
As for the responsibility of the incident, Ms. Strom said, "The school can't be the end-all and be-all in every situation," and parents have to accept responsibility for their children.
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