Fallon teacher resigns amid accusations of intoxication

FALLON -- A Churchill County High School teacher accused of showing up intoxicated at work in April has resigned, officials said.

School District Superintendent Carolyn Ross said she has received a letter of resignation, effective at the end of the current school year. The female English teacher has not been publicly identified.

"I have visited with her about her letter of resignation," Ross told the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard newspaper.

"This is a personal situation and in everyone's best interest."

The teacher was accused of showing up late to work and above the state's .08 legal limit for alcohol.

Fallon Police Chief Russ Brooks said a police officer escorted the teacher off campus at the request of school officials after she failed a preliminary breath test.

The teacher's resignation will appear June 14 for school board approval, Ross said.

Under the district's drug and alcohol testing policy, employees can be placed on investigative suspension pending test results.

If test results are positive, the employee must pass a drug or alcohol test before returning to work.

News about the incident first surfaced on a blog that school board member Dave Ash set up to allow residents to comment on district issues.

Ash has ignored a subsequent request by the district's attorney to shut down the site.