VERNONIA PRINCIPAL IN HOT WATER OVER POT

Drug Testing - Since 1989, The School District Has Had Strict
Anti-Drug Rules For Its Athletes

For nearly two decades the Vernonia School District has been at the
forefront of fighting student drug use, even taking its mandatory
drug-testing policy of athletes to the U.S. Supreme Court -- and winning.

But a 41-year-old Vernonia elementary principal will keep his job,
even after getting cited at Fort Stevens State Park last week for
possession of marijuana.

Vernonia Superintendent Kenneth Cox said Tuesday that Aaron Miller
has his "full support" and will stay on as principal of Washington
Grade School and Mist Elementary School after telling a Clatsop
County sheriff's deputy that he'd been smoking pot.

"It was an unfortunate mistake and a poor choice to make," Cox said.
"But I've had a meeting with Mr. Miller, and he's planning on making
things better, making things right."

Miller, who lives in Vernonia, said his attorney advised him not to
comment on the case. "I will be speaking publicly on this issue in
the future," he said.

The Vernonia district started mandatory testing of its athletes in
1989; students with drugs in their system couldn't play. School
officials said they wanted to stem a growing drug problem.

Two years later, seventh-grader James Acton refused to take a drug
test as part of a tryout for middle school football. Acton was banned
from playing and his parents sued the school district.

The case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995 and in a 6-3
decision justices upheld the district's policy.

That's an irony that's not lost on Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin,
who said in 22 years in police work he is not surprised by much
anymore. But he had strong words for Miller.

"I find it sickening," said Bergin, who spoke by phone from a
narcotics conference in Bend. "In our schools, we stress to our kids
to not do drugs. Now we have a principal, someone who is supposed to
be a role model in education, smoking pot in public."

"How does he answer to this? And are we going to want to send our
children to his school? What's he going to tell them: 'It's OK for me
to do it, but you can't.' This whole thing is so upsetting."

According to the sheriff's report, Miller was near a line of trees at
Fort Stevens State Park and leaning against his bike about 10 p.m.
Friday when Deputy Chance Moore approached him. Moore wrote that
Miller smelled of marijuana and said: "I'm just taking a break."

When Moore asked if he'd been smoking pot, Miller became visibly
upset and said, "I could be in a lot of trouble for this, but yes I
have been smoking marijuana."

Moore wrote in his report that Miller became agitated, so he placed
him in handcuffs but didn't arrest him. The deputy checked Miller's
pockets where he found a small stash of pot and a pipe. He cited the
principal for one count of unlawful possession of marijuana. A court
date has been set for Aug. 6.

Superintendent Cox said he will meet with Miller and the school board
Thursday night in executive session to discuss the personnel matter.
The seven-member board is down to five members, but two new members
will be sworn in Thursday night, Cox said.

"He's one of our best administrators," said Cox, adding that district
principals serve at the discretion of the superintendent. "It was a
dumb mistake, but he has my full support. He has the support from the
majority of the school board.

"He assures us that this is not something that's habitual. It's been
a long time since he's had any contact with (marijuana). It was poor
judgment. He has had previous contact with marijuana, but it was in
the distant past."

Cox said the district doesn't want to lose Miller because he's done a
good job communicating with parents, students and staff. Miller
taught elementary school for 13 years and was coach of the high
school's baseball team for 11 years before becoming principal in 2005.

"We'd be shooting ourselves in the foot if we said, 'Well, you made
this mistake, and we're going to find someone else' " for the job.

Cox said once the court case wraps up, he'll send a letter out to
parents of the 720-student district. Also, the school board plans to
release a statement prior to start of school, he said.