Austintown expands drug testing to student drivers

AUSTINTOWN

The Austintown school district has expanded drug- testing to include student drivers at its high school for this school year.

The school has been drug- testing student athletes randomly on a weekly basis since the late 1990s.

The school board recently approved the expanded testing program.

Chris Berni, principal at Austintown Fitch High School, said any student who applied for a parking permit for this school year will be required to pay an additional $10 to be put into a pool of students to be selected for a random drug test every week.

Superintendent Vincent Colaluca said about 10 percent of all student athletes and drivers will be chosen each week to be tested at the school’s medical clinic.

“We want to send the message that if you’re driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, we will take serious action against you, such as revoking driving privileges,” Berni said.

Read more about the program in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.