Parents outraged after 9 students suspended for drinking at HS football game

MOUNT LEBANON, Pa. — Parents are expressing their views after the nine Mount Lebanon High School students were given a 10-day suspension and a restriction from school activities for an additional month.

Channel 11’s Catherine Varnum spoke with a parent of one of the teens in trouble who said the students rented a bus to attend the Mount Lebanon and Norwin High School game in North Huntingdon on Oct. 7.

The mother then said a female student needed medical attention during the game after having too much to drink. She also said the athletic director found out and then searched the bus with police, who found alcohol.

North Huntingdon police said the students were given a preliminary breath test.

Students were given a 10-day suspension and a notice stated they were restricted from school activities for an additional month. The school district said in one of the student’s notice of suspension that “students are prohibited from using or being under the influence of any alcoholic beverage while at any school district location.”

"While I’m sure the school has a policy, I’m not sure I want the school parenting my child in that manner,” a parent said.

The students also had to go to an alcohol assessment program.

Some parents told Varnum they did not agree with how it was handled.

“I feel like it’s a matter that should be handled between the law and parents,” a parent said.

While some parents disagree, others believe the incident was handled properly.

“Illegal is illegal,” a parent said.

Cox Media Group