A staff member at a residential school in Westchester says two brutal fights last week could be the result of administration cuts, overwhelmed employees and frustrated students.

Six teenagers at Hawthorne Cedar Knolls, a school for troubled teens, are facing charges after two incidents just 12 hours apart.

Three boys were arrested on charges of rioting Friday after a fight at the school. Early Saturday morning, police were called back and arrested three girls. One of the girls is a 13-year-old who is accused of trying to set a staff member on fire using a lighter and aerosol can.

The worker, who didn't want to appear on camera, said that they are afraid to go to work each day, and the real issue is job cuts and the lack of administration. News 12 is told there is a 9-to-1 ratio of kids to counselors.

Neighbors who live near the school say it is a nightmare, and say they don't want their kids to play in their front yards because of safety concerns.

News 12 has been told that several residents have had their cars and property damaged.

Residents say the constant problems from the school are a drain on the town resources, with fire crews and police being called to the school on such a frequent basis.

Residents are planning to hold a meeting on Monday about the ongoing issues with the school.

News 12 reached out to the school administration about the alleged lack of staff and was told that staffing meets the ratios that are required by the state. They say their staff is well-trained and very capable of working with children.