Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jul 2007
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2007 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: David Austin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

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.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman