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Student sues Central Greene School District, alleges he was wrongly expelled

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A former Waynesburg Central High School student sued Central Greene School District and several school officials Wednesday, alleging he was wrongly expelled during his senior year.

Sawyer Cole of Holbrook, through attorney Adam J. Belletti, claimed in the federal lawsuit that school officials didn’t follow their own policies when they suspended and then expelled him for refusing to take a urinalysis drug test in January 2018.

Cole, according to the suit, was summoned to the vice principal’s office after he fell asleep in a study hall on Jan. 24, 2018. The suit contended he had a cold and was tired from medication, but school officials allegedly believed he was under the influence of drugs and called to have a drug test administered.

Belletti said the school’s policy requires students to submit to a saliva test; however, the company called to administer the test didn’t offer that and Cole was asked to undergo urinalysis testing.

He refused.

“Mr. Cole was falsely informed that if he refused a urinalysis drug test he would be considered to have tested positive and subject to discipline,” Belletti wrote.

When Cole’s father arrived at the school, he was told his son would be subjected to 10 days of suspension, the suit stated. At a Feb. 5 school board hearing, Cole learned the district wanted to expel him. The school board acted on that recommendation, expelling Cole for the remainder of his senior year, according to the filing.

Cole’s parents appealed the decision to Greene County Common Pleas Court, and on March 29, Judge Farley Toothman overturned the expulsion. In a brief, handwritten order, Toothman found the district didn’t follow its policy. The judge also ordered Cole to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommended treatment.

Belletti alleged that missing two months of school alienated Cole from his friends and peers and put him behind in his classes. He claimed the district offered Cole only his English and economics classes during the expulsion period.

The suit asks for $100,000 in compensatory damages, punitive damages and for a judge to order the district to train its officials on its policies.

In addition to the district, the suit names Superintendent Helen McCracken, Assistant Superintendent Matthew Blair, school resource officer Andrew Zimmer, Vice Principal Justin Stephenson and Principal Robert Stephenson.

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