A liquor bottle was found near the teacher's desk, officials said. He admitted he needed help.
Patch Staff
|Updated Mon, Oct 28, 2024 at 6:48 am CT
ELMHURST, IL – A York High School teacher was found with alcohol in his system and an empty container of liquor earlier this month, according to the school district.
Through a public records request, Patch obtained documents in the case.
On Oct. 1, the teacher's department colleagues reported seeing an empty container of alcohol in the teacher's workspace, according to an Oct. 7 memo by Joseph Schumacher, the district's assistant superintendent of human resources.
The administration confiscated the bottle and ordered the teacher to submit to an alcohol test the same day at Elmhurst Hospital, Schumacher said.
Two tests showed the teacher's blood-alcohol level was about .055.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"You were safely picked up by another person at the hospital at the conclusion of testing," Schumacher said.
The next day, the teacher was put on paid administrative leave.
On Oct. 3, the teacher met with administrators. According to the memo, the teacher said the container was in his backpack and fell out of a pocket. It had been left in the backpack for a couple of weeks and he had drunk it at a professional baseball game, the teacher said.
The teacher told administrators that he did not drink on the morning of Oct. 1 or during the work day. The teacher explained the test results, but the school district blacked out that part of the memo.
When asked why he did not take the day off, the teacher said the administration had previous concerns about his attendance, the memo said.
The teacher was also asked whether there were similar occurrences before. He said, "A long time ago in the past, I may have been under the influence at work," the memo said.
But then the teacher contradicted the statement by denying he ever drank at work, brought an alcohol container to work or was under the influence at work, according to the memo.
The teacher acknowledged his drinking was tied to performance concerns in the classroom, attendance and punctuality, Schumacher wrote.
Principal Jessica Hurt said the teacher's drinking or perceived drinking was known by several "stakeholders" at York High School and that administrators had fielded concerns, the memo said.
Schumacher said he determined that the teacher was under the influence of alcohol on Oct. 1 during the school day.
"Regardless of when you consumed alcohol, you were intoxicated while at work," Schumacher said. "You were still registering a high level of intoxication late in the afternoon, which means when you started teaching in the morning, you were likely even further impaired."
Schumacher handed the teacher a four-day unpaid suspension and required the teacher undergo a fit-for-duty assessment.
Schumacher also recommended the school board issue the teacher a public reprimand – known officially as a "notice to remedy." The board followed through on Oct. 15.
The teacher was also directed to be assessed by a licensed clinician to determine whether he needed treatment. The district suggested the teacher engage in whatever treatment program is recommended.
The teacher will also be subject to random alcohol tests until the first semester of the next school year.
The district also provided Patch with a letter from the teacher to administrators, but it was mostly blacked out. The district said it did so because the information was about medical conditions and family matters that would be considered an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy," an exception under the state Freedom of Information Act.
The teacher acknowledged the small bottle was discovered near his desk and that it was from a recent baseball game and was empty. He denied drinking at work, but acknowledged blowing a .05 in a breath test.
"I've been blessed with being part of the (Elmhurst School District 205) community for going on 18 years," the teacher said. "Some (students) visit and/or contact me to let me know how I've impacted them. It's hard to put down into words how much I love my job and care about my students. This calling has given me purpose and structure that I'm not sure what I'd do without."
He concluded his letter by writing, "I admit I need help."
The public records listed the teacher's name, but Patch decided against publishing it.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.