A Reynolds High School student was permanently expelled from the district after he brought a loaded handgun to football practice.

School board members voted earlier this week to expel a 17-year-old boy for violating the school's weapon policy. The boy can't attend or participate in any district activities and events or use district transportation.

The boy's name was not released because he is a juvenile.

His expulsion stems from an incident that occurred before school began this year.

School officials notified Pymatuning Township police at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 15 that a loaded .22 caliber pistol was found in the boy's locker at school, police said.

The boy apparently was on school grounds for football practice when the gun was found, police said. Fellow students alerted school authorities to the gun. Police confiscated the weapon and the boy was petitioned to Mercer County Juvenile Court, police said.

Pymatuning Police Chief John Miller said there have been other incidents where students have been found with weapons on school property, but he couldn't recall the last time a firearm was confiscated.

"It's been some time," he said.