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Pocono News Section
School Van Driver in DUI Case Quits
School Van Driver in DUI Case Quits - Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 04:15AM EST
Reported by: Mark Hiller
Thursday May 13 2010
0/ 5 rating THROOP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The Mid Valley School van driver at the center of a DUI controversy is off the job for good. That's the outcome of Wednesday night's school board meeting in the Mid Valley School District.
Even though 41-year-old Edward Doughton of Olyphant will no longer drive for the district, some parents say the administration needs to do more. Dozens of people packed the meeting and sounded off about the district's second DUI incident involving a driver this school year. In the end, the board accepted Doughton's resignation rather than firing him. The substitute school van driver is charged with having a blood-alcohol level of 0.07 while transporting a student April 23rd. State law prohibits school drivers from having any alcohol in their system.
The district didn't immediately report the incident to police. Some parents say that's unacceptable and want to see someone fired for not following proper procedure. "My kid was suspended for copying an editorial about the drunk drivers and passing it around," said Cheryl Shihinski. "She got suspended for degrading the school. It wasn't the drunk drivers, it wasn't the school officials that did nothing, it was her." "They seem to want to blame the whole incident on the driver," said Keith MacDonald. "Nobody from the administration wants to take responsibility. I think someone from the administration should pay with their job as well."
That's also how School Director Cathy Jones felt. She made motions to fire Mid Valley Transportation Director Diane Parry. But after the board met in executive session, Jones dropped the motions. A new policy has emerged in Mid Valley since Daughton's DUI incident. Mid Valley van drivers must return their keys after completing their runs. | | |
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