UNION WILL BACK TEACHER IF FIRED ON DRUG CHARGES

The teachers' union that represents Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary
School teacher [Name redacted] said it does not condone [Name
redacted] alleged criminal behavior, but still will support her in
the event of termination from employment.

[Name redacted] , formerly known as [Name redacted] , 41, has
been arrested twice since October 2005. She was charged
with methamphetamine and marijuana possession after the 2005 arrest
and will face new charges from prosecutors Friday, following her
arrest Sunday.

"This is a criminal case. The charges against this woman are outside
the scope of her employment," read a joint statement from the Mesa
Valley Education Association, the teachers' union for Mesa County
School District 51, and the Colorado Education Association. Neither
group is involved in the legal matters of [Name redacted] criminal case.

"CEA represents members in legal matters related to their
employment. CEA will represent [Name redacted] if and when the
district moves to terminate her," according to the statement.

Mesa County School District 51 released a statement Wednesday in
response to public criticism of [Name redacted] paid leave.

"By placing ( [Name redacted] ) on administrative leave, the
district is not defending ( [Name redacted]) or condoning her
alleged conduct."

The district is re-evaluating her employment status. [Name
redacted] , a first-grade teacher, has been employed by the district
since 1999. Since October 2005, she has been on administrative leave
and continues to receive normal salary and benefits. Under the
Colorado Teacher Employment, Compensation and Dismissal Act, grounds
for [Name redacted] firing would include a felony conviction
or acceptance of a guilty plea. The act does not allow
for dismissal on the basis of filed criminal charges.

Fran Docherty, the West Central Colorado UniServ director who works
with the Colorado Education Association, said no matter what the
outcome will be, [Name redacted] right to representation in an
employment-related case won't be denied.