‘She wants her day in court’

WARREN — The two Fitzgerald Public Schools administrators facing possession of marijuana on school grounds charges are scheduled to be back in 37th District Court March 6 for a motion hearing.

Superintendent Hollie Stange, 38, is charged with possession of marijuana on school grounds, a two-year felony; possession of a weapon in a weapon-free zone; and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, both of which are 93-day misdemeanors.

District Food Services Director Amanda Carroll, 39, is charged with possession of marijuana on school grounds; operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated second offense, a one-year misdemeanor; and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an occupant less than 16 years old, a one-year misdemeanor.

Both defendants stood in district court before Judge John Chmura Feb. 6 for a preliminary exam, which was adjourned at the request of Camilla Barkovic, Carroll’s attorney. Barkovic told Chmura that she was going to file a motion to sever, thus the request for the adjournment for both women.

A motion to sever is a formal request to the court to separate a defendant’s charges or cases from those of other defendants in the same case or series of related cases. A motion to sever means to ask the court to separate a defendant from other people in the same case.

“I am asking for a motion hearing date in advance of any new preliminary examination date,” Barkovic said.

Stange’s attorney, William Barnwell, however, wanted to proceed with the hearing.

“We are ready to go today. My client wanted a preliminary exam. I’m here today with exhibits. I’m here today with legal arguments,” Barnwell said. “She wants her day in court. It is our desire to proceed today.”

Also in court was Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Urban, who objected to the adjournment and to any motion being filed.

“There are certain circumstances under which a preliminary examination can be severed between the two co-defendants. We do not believe that any of those circumstances are met here,” Urban said. “We don’t feel there’s any legal basis for that motion. Our officers are here. We are ready to proceed.”

But Chmura adjourned the preliminary exam instead. The March 6 motion hearing was set for Chmura to either grant the motion to sever or not.

Stange and Carroll were arrested during separate traffic stops Dec. 20 for allegedly smoking marijuana near school grounds and driving while under the influence of drugs. According to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, it is alleged that Stange and Carroll were in Carroll’s vehicle smoking marijuana Dec. 20 at a plaza near the corner of Nine Mile and Ryan roads, within 1,000 feet of school grounds.

They left in separate vehicles. Warren police officers conducted a traffic stop on Stange’s vehicle and alleged she was under the influence of marijuana. A traffic stop also was conducted by Warren officers on Carroll’s vehicle and it was determined that she was allegedly under the influence.

Both women are out on bond and are required to undergo random drug testing. During the Feb. 6 hearing, Chmura said that Carroll has been refusing to have her specimens sent to the lab.

“We addressed this issue before in a different manner,” Barkovic told the judge. “You commented on some THC being detected in her system. I advised the court that she is a Michigan medical marijuana patient. She is in possession of a valid card. I do have a letter from a physician documenting the need for that. I’m asking that the court take no action and make a note her use is legitimate for medical purposes and allow her to continue using.”

Stange became superintendent Oct. 10, 2022. Prior to that, she served as business director and acting superintendent for the district. Stange has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in organizational development from Siena Heights University. She also earned her administrative certification through the Horizon program with the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators.

According to the district’s Board of Education meeting minutes dated June 26, 2023, Carroll was hired as the food services director July 1, 2023. On Dec. 21, 2024, the school board voted unanimously to place Stange and Carroll on leave effective immediately pending an internal review and ongoing criminal investigation.

In the meantime, Laurie Fournier is serving as interim superintendent. According to school officials, Fournier served nearly 30 years in Fitzgerald Public Schools as a teacher, school​ principal, curriculum director and eventually superintendent.