photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, is pictured Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.

Updated at 4:18 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023

Businesses near Free State High School have reported that some students have been involved in fighting, vandalism, drug use and shoplifting in and around their establishments, according to an email from the school’s principal that was sent to the Journal-World Tuesday afternoon.

The message, an email sent by Free State Principal Amy McAnarney to the school’s parent list, notes that some neighboring businesses have even reported such concerns to law enforcement. Free State’s campus, 4700 Overland Drive, is near multiple restaurants and businesses off Sixth Street in west Lawrence. McAnarney’s message implies that the alleged incidents have been occurring during the school’s open lunch period, during which students are allowed to go off campus.

“We encourage you to visit with your student at home about the concerns of some of the businesses surrounding our campus,” McAnarney’s message to parents reads. “Discuss with your student your family’s expectations of their behavior when dining out or shopping. I know that you share our desire that students learn to be good neighbors and to represent themselves, their families and our school well in our community.”

McAnarney’s message said that it was likely that businesses used surveillance cameras to monitor their properties and that students “should be aware of the possible consequences for misdemeanor criminal acts.”

For example, she wrote, “theft of property of a value of less than $1,500 is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year’s jail time and a $2,500 fine (K.S.A. 21-5801). Vandalism with damages of less than $1,000, a class B misdemeanor, is punishable by up to six months’ jail time and a $1,000 fine (K.S.A. 21-5813). Fighting can be considered disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to one month’s jail time and a $500 fine (K.S.A. 21-6203).”

The Lawrence Police Department told the Journal-World Tuesday that Free State’s school resource officer had reached out to school administrative staff about the issues at nearby businesses.

Sgt. Drew Fennelly, a spokesman for LPD, said the message to parents was not brought about by any recent increase in activity “but rather an ongoing concern regarding student activities at lunch time.”

“Our SRO at Free State is working with school staff to address concerns that have been periodically raised by surrounding businesses regarding quality of life issues,” Fennelly said. “Based on what the resource officer is telling me, this was meant to be a reminder to students and their families that this type of behavior is not acceptable and the consequences that could arise.”