DAYTON — Community leaders and parents continue to work to find answers after students got violent inside a Dayton Metro Library Branch.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, a meeting was held Tuesday at Dayton Metro Library as people want a better and safer solution.
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People told News Center 7′s Malik Patterson that they hate that the library closes in the middle of the day.
They think it’s a good idea for now but want a better solution.
“I live right behind the library. So, I see groups of students that may be acting unruly from time to time and getting into trouble,” said Pastor Karl Penn, Fort McKinley Church.
He believes he knows part of the problem.
“I just don’t know that they have anything to do when school is out,” Penn told Patterson.
>>RELATED: New video shows large fight between teenagers inside Dayton Metro Library branch
As previously reported by News Center 7, the problems started happening at the Dayton Metro Library’s Southeast Branch.
Many students would come to the branch after school.
But back in September, a group of teens were in the library playing video games when one student hit another.
It turned into an all-out brawl.
>>RELATED: Increase in students fighting cause downtown library to change hours; District speaks out
That led the library officials to close the Southeast Branch on Watervliet Avenue from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Penn told Patterson that a group of churches spoke to students to see what they wanted since the incident.
“Things that always kept coming up was we need a safe space. We need to be able to relax somewhere. We need to listen to some music,” he said. “We made the decision to come together for the good of our students.”
Patterson reports that the churches are working on when this will be available. Penn wants to see action sooner rather than later.
“And it is an urgent need that we’re trying to get together right now so that when the New Year hits, they have something and someplace that they can go to and be safe,” said Penn.
Patterson reports after Tuesday’s meeting that the library will get together after the holidays.
They expect to have more meetings before they reach a conclusion.
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