DeKalb school children can expect to get to school in a drug-free environment.

As of Jan. 1 all prospective and current Illinois bus company employees are required, as a part of their medical exams, to pass drug and alcohol urine tests before receiving a new or renewed driving permit, according to a new law initiated by State Representative John Countryman, R-DeKalb.

Long’s Bus Company, 1140 S. Seventh St., DeKalb’s school bus company for the past 30 years is in the process of starting mandatory drug testing for all employees.

Jim Long, owner of the company, says his employees have shown no aversion to the drug testing. Long also said his drivers are “monitored or talked to” at least once a day and any attitudes or changes in attitude are recorded.

Huskie Line Manager Charlie Battista said he is committed to a drug free work place and will do anything to comply to federal regulations.

Debbie Benad, co-president of the Lincoln Elementary School Parent Teacher Authority (PTA) said the drug testing is a good idea and should be done before drivers are hired.

“The children are in the hands of the driver,” Benad said. “It is a good idea especially because the drivers are responsible for the children.

“Small children may not know what to look for if a driver is acting strangely. They may think the driver is merely trying to disclipine the children or that he or she is having a bad day,” she said.

Benad added, “Older children have more of an idea of what to look for, they might be able to tell if a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

“Bus drivers may need to discipline the children, but discipline can get out of hand if the driver is using drugs or alcohol,” she said.

Long said he believed the “crackdown,” the enforcement of drug testing in the DeKalb area, is due to Chicago school bus drivers selling controlled substances on their buses.

Battista said his drivers must have an excellent driving record and less than two movng violations in 12 months. The Huskie Line has been with Northern Illinois since 1971 and has had no serious complaints, he said.

Huskie Line bus drivers’ records are checked with the secretary of state once a year and any driving violations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, Battista said.

Long’s Bus Company has not had any serious accidents involving drug or alcohol use in the 30 years that the DeKalb school district has been using them and no students have been hurt, Long said.

DeKalb State’s Attorney Mike Coghlan said, DeKalb County has had no drivers charged with traffic violations related to drug or alcohol use in the past few years.

Transit systems working in areas with populations of less than 200,000, such as the Huksie Line, must start testing by Dec. 21.

Coghlan said it is not uncommon to distinguish between areas that exceed or fall below a certain population, which is why testing started at different times for different transit systems.