TEACHERS' ARRESTS OUTRAGE PARENTS

Many Say the Pair Should Be Fired for Allegedly Smoking Pot

Some students and parents at [redacted] were shocked and disappointed
after two teachers were arrested for allegedly smoking marijuana
before they headed to work.

"I think it's absolutely awful," said Stacy Starustka, who waited to
pick up her daughter. "I think they should be terminated."

Some other parents and students agreed, saying the Department of
Education should fire teachers [redacted] for the alleged drug-related offense.

About 8:45 a.m. Monday, police said, [redacted] were allegedly
smoking marijuana in Ayson's green pickup truck at the [redacted].

The parking lot is a couple of minutes from the school. Police said
a parent recognized the teachers and then followed the truck to the
school. Police said the parent spoke to Principal [redacted], vice
principals and school security about what she had observed earlier.
[redacted] declined to comment on [redacted].

School officials investigated. Marijuana and paraphernalia were found
in the truck and on [redacted], police said. School officials called
police about 11:45 a.m. Police arrested [redacted] on suspicion of
third-degree promotion of dangerous drugs, considered a petty misdemeanor.

Both were released after they each posted $50 bail.

[redacted] are scheduled to appear in [redacted] District Court on
Dec. 26. If charged with the offense, both could face up to 30 days in jail.

Both [redacted] could not be reached for comment.

[redacted] were placed on paid leave while the Department of
Education conducts an investigation.

[redacted] has been a teacher for 8 1/2 years. He previously taught
at [redacted] for two years before he taught at [redacted], according
to a spokeswoman.

[redacted] has been a teacher for eight years. She previously taught
at [redacted] School for about six months before going to Mililani Middle.

Students in middle school are at a critical age where they are
impressionable, said June Yoshida, whose son, Bradley, is a
sixth-grader at the school. They look up to their teachers, she said.

Seventh-grader Angella Alania said, "I didn't think our teachers
would do that."

Some parents and students said mandatory random drug testing should
be implemented for teachers, but Roger Takabayashi, president of the
Hawaii State Teachers Association, said that is not a solution.

Drugs are a societal problem, not a teacher problem, Takabayashi
said, adding that the teachers' union does not support mandatory
random drug testing for teachers.

Like some parents, Takabayashi said he was also disappointed upon
learning of the teachers' arrests.

On Oct. 10, [redacted] was arrested by law enforcement officials of
the Hawaii Rapid Reduction Drug Task Force for allegedly dealing
crystal methamphetamine or "ice" to an undercover officer. [redacted]
was charged and faces a minimum of 10 years to possibly life in
prison. He is believed to be the first public school teacher in
Hawaii to be charged with dealing ice.