LEW-PORT: STUDENTS: SUB USED COCAINE IN SCHOOL

A Lewiston-Porter substitute teacher was arrested Tuesday after
allegedly using cocaine while on school property last week.

Joan M. Donatelli, 59, of the Town of Lewiston, was charged at 4:50
p.m. Tuesday with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled
substance and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Donatelli was teaching a fourth-grade class at the Lewiston-Porter
Intermediate Education Center on Feb. 1. During the day, at least two
students saw what they thought was Donatelli using drugs, said Sgt.
Frank Previte of the Lewiston Police Department.

"They were not sure what it was," he said of the students. "They
believed it may have involved drug use or drug abuse."

The students informed administrators, who in turn told police that
afternoon. Police examined the classroom that afternoon and found
some evidence of drug use. After being confronted later that day,
Previte said Donatelli eventually confessed to using drugs.

A white, powdery substance was confiscated from Donatelli that tests
revealed was cocaine, Previte said.

Donatelli recently began working as a substitute after teaching
full-time in the district. She served as the first-grade department
chairperson in parts of 2003 and 2004.

Superintendent Don Rappold sent a letter home to parents last week
informing them that "a substitute teacher in your child's classroom
may have a substance abuse problem." Intermediate Center Principal
Tamara Larson referred a reporter seeking comment in her office to
Rappold, who also declined comment.

"The letter is the letter," he said.

Parent Greg Sitek of Lewiston was surprised upon hearing the news
when picking up his son from school Thursday.

"Shocked, disturbed," was his initial reaction. "I would think there
would have to be some sort of drug testing."

Lew-Port is a "drug-free zone," according to a policy posted on the
district's Web site. Anyone caught with drugs in their possession
within 1,000 feet of this zone is subject to as much as 16 years
incarceration, the policy said.

Previte was quick to praise the two students, whom he declined to
identify, for telling someone.

"They did what they were supposed to do," he said. "In this case, it
worked very well."

Donatelli was only charged with two endangerment counts because
police have to prove students saw the illegal act as opposed to just
hearing about it, Previte said. She has been banned from the school
campus since Feb. 1, Rappold's letter said.

Donatelli was issued appearance tickets and released. She is
scheduled to appear at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in Lewiston Town Court, Previte said.