TEACHER FIRED BUT NOT CHARGED IN DRUG CASE

Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 has fired an [redacted]
teacher suspected of having drug paraphernalia on school property.

[redacted], who had taught at [redacted] schools for four years, was
terminated by school board members Monday night for "apparent
possession of drug paraphernalia on school property." [redacted] was
removed from his teaching duties Oct. 25.

The teacher isn't currently facing criminal charges. However, the
Shawnee County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and has turned
its findings over to the office of Shawnee County District Attorney
Robert Hecht, said sheriff's spokeswoman Martha Lutz. Hecht said he
expects to review the case next week before deciding if charges will be filed.

Auburn-Washburn school board members began moving toward firing
[redacted] late last month for violating school board policy.

[redacted] was sent written notice that he was entitled to a public
hearing if he requested one. By the time board members met Monday
night, a 15-day waiting period during which [redacted] could have
submitted a written request for a hearing had passed without such a
submission, said district spokesman Martin Weishaar.

The firing became effective Monday.

Superintendent Brenda Dietrich previously wrote to parents that the
district had no reason to believe students came in contact with the
materials. On Tuesday, she said that statement remained true.

Legal tangles that result in a conviction can keep teachers out of
the classroom in Kansas. Convictions are to be reported to the Kansas
State Department of Education under state law and can result in a
teacher's license being revoked.