Documents: Band member admitted drinking

The school said the girl refused to tell on her friends.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A 16-year-old Poland Seminary High School junior admitted abusing the school’s alcohol policy while marching at an Aug. 28 band event.

Effective Tuesday, the school suspended Brittany Gamble for 10 days and banned her from extracurricular activities for the year.

The girl’s mother, Rebekah Morse of Lowellville, filed a lawsuit in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court this week, seeking a temporary restraining order against the school and reversal of the school’s actions.

As of Friday afternoon, Judge Charles H. Bannon, who is assigned the case, had not acted on temporary restraining order request.

In a response the school filed in court Friday, it said that on Aug. 28, marching band instructor Nick Olesko was informed during a band night performance at Canfield High School that several band members had possibly been drinking.

Of the students questioned, only Gamble showed signs of alcohol use, states an incident report from Olesko, which was turned in Aug. 31.

More details

Gamble had the “distinct smell of alcohol on her breath, was walking with an uneven and unsteady gait, and had a glossy and distant look in her eyes,” said the report, which also has been filed with the common pleas court. “In addition, Brittany had fallen down during the band show. In 15 years of marching band experience, I have never seen a PSHS marching band member actually fall down during a performance, especially on an artificial surface such as the one at Canfield High School.”

The report said Gamble’s belongings were searched, and no alcohol was found on her.

She “admitted to drinking alcohol, but refused to supply the names of any other students who also may have been drinking,” according to a memorandum to the court from the school’s lawyers.

“When asked who she was drinking with, she said that she would not tell on her friends and get them in trouble,” Olesko’s report also said. Gamble also told Olesko her friends had supplied the alcohol.

Just after the suit was filed, Morse’s attorney, Plato Kalfas, said Morse and her daughter want the school to give the girl a chance to prove her innocence. For example, after the girl was accused of consuming alcohol, Morse asked if the girl could take a Breathalyzer test, but the school refused.

In situations like this, the “unsubstantiated statements from others” is not enough, Kalfas said. The school needs more objective evidence, he said.

A phone call to Kalfas on Friday seeking comment was not returned.

runyan@vindy.com