SCHOOL TOLD TO REHIRE COCAINE ABUSER

Escambia Superintendent Wants To Fight Arbitrator's Decision

Escambia County Schools must rehire a school employee who reported to work
with cocaine in his system - 50 times above the cutoff level for a positive
drug test.

Robert K. Sites III, 37, initially was terminated after arriving at
Brentwood Middle School on Aug. 10 in an agitated and nervous state. A
"reasonable suspicion" drug test revealed cocaine metabolites in his system.

An independent arbitrator ruled this month that a penalty less severe than
termination was warranted and wants Sites rehired with full pay and
benefits. He must be evaluated by a substance abuse counselor, complete a
rehabilitation program and test negative for drugs upon his return to work.

That came as little comfort to Superintendent Jim Paul, who today is
expected to recommend that the county School Board appeal the arbitrator's
decision and fight for termination.

"We are expelling kids for taking aspirin or No-Doz. Now we are talking
about someone taking cocaine, and that's OK," Paul said.

"This is one of the most bizarre things I have had to deal with. To think
we would have to take someone back into a school - a school with children -
who has been proven to take cocaine is an outrage."

The Escambia Education Association, representing Sites, agrees with the
arbitrator's decision, said Bob Husbands, association executive director.
The ruling does not specify that Sites return to a classroom, Husbands said.

Sites is described as a technology coordinator at Brentwood Middle School.

The union argued the district violated the collective bargaining agreement
by not informing Sites of his right to representation at the time of
termination. Union officials also wanted progressive discipline
implemented. That's where the district takes into consideration other
factors, such as Sites' work evaluations and his 12-year service to the county.

"There is nowhere in board policy, law or contract where zero tolerance for
employees is referenced," Husbands said.

The union advised Sites not to comment on the case. He did not return
reporters' telephone calls.

According to arbitrator Tom Young's report, Sites showed up for work at
Brentwood Middle late on Aug. 10 wearing dark, wraparound sunglasses.

Students had not yet returned for the fall semester, but fellow teachers
noticed his unusual behavior.

When Sites removed his glasses, one teacher remarked that the pupils of
Sites' eyes were the size of quarters. Later, during a staff meeting, Sites
stood up and spontaneously addressed the faculty in language described as
"rambling, unfocused."

The assistant principal took Sites to an undetermined location for a drug
test. At no time did Sites ask for union representation, nor did the
administration offer it, according to Young's report. Law enforcement was
not contacted.

On Aug. 21, the testing agency called the school and confirmed that cocaine
- - 7,500 nanograms per liter - was found in Sites' system. The threshold for
a positive test result is 150 nanograms per liter. Sites was suspended.

District officials said Sites never has contested the test results. Paul
recommended him for termination, and the board complied on Sept. 18.

The union filed a grievance the next day.

Young's report states that Sites has never received less than a
satisfactory job-performance evaluation. He comes from a family of
educators. His parents, grandparents, brother and sister are, or were
teachers in Escambia County.

He was described as a role model for his students and an outstanding
employee. Excluding this incident, Sites never has received any
disciplinary action during his employment.

But, that is not enough to stop Board Member Cary Stidham from considering
an appeal.

As a parent, she has a problem with teachers using drugs. And, if a student
were found in the same situation, she knows they would not be treated with
leniency.

"It is OK for adults, but not OK for kids?" she asked. "Teachers are
supposed to be role models for children, whether they like it or not. Think
about if this happened in the private sector. Would someone rehire him?"