Two teachers charged with driving drunk
Two Wabash Valley teachers arrested for alcohol-related offenses over the weekend were formally charged in court Thursday.
The suspension of one teacher was upheld by the Clay Community School Board Thursday, pending further investigation.
Anita Miller, a physical education teacher at North Clay Middle School, faces misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and public nudity. She was a passenger in a 2003 Jeep Liberty driven by White River Valley teacher Melinda Ellis, who was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and two counts of driving while intoxicated, all misdemeanors.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Clay County Sheriff's Deputies Jason Frazier and Josh Krause responded to a deer-vehicle accident in a rural area. They discovered a 2003 Jeep Liberty standing almost upright in a ditch.
Ellis, 35, and Miller, 43, both from Brazil, were uninjured during the accident, but both smelled of alcohol and were allegedly intoxicated.
After failing field sobriety tests, they were booked into the Clay County Justice Center. Officers reported Miller displayed outrageous behavior, including dropping her pants to her ankles at least twice in an attempt to urinate in front of the officers.
Both women posted bond and were released from jail Monday.
The Clay Community School Board met in special session Thursday night at North Clay Middle School to discuss the suspension with pay and investigation of Miller.
Board President Terry Barr opened the meeting, and Superintendent Dan Schroeder made his recommendations.
"For reasons of protecting individuals, this is a personnel case, we will not state names," Schroeder said. "I am requesting that we continue with the suspension with pay that the administrators have initiated, and to allow the administration to conduct an investigation of teacher misconduct, and then proceed with due process up to and including possible cancellation (of contract)."