Pubdate: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) id=2737a31f-9b30-4474-9bfe-fb0641a907da Copyright: 2006 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Authors: Anne Kyle, Heather Polischuk Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER DRUG CHARGES The Regina Public School Teachers Association has confirmed one of its members has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of his trouble with the law. Elementary school teacher Stanley Tom Mamela, 38, was charged this summer with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and possession of crime proceeds under the Criminal Code. Both charges date to Aug. 15 at or near Regina. The second charge alleges Mamela possessed $1,085 related to the drug charge, according to court documents. "I can tell you the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and the local Regina Public School Teachers' Association will provide every service that we can to that member," association president Ron Holloway said. "He can access any of the services that we would provide to any of our members. That might include things such as counselling services and could also include legal services." During his first court appearance, Mamela had the matters set over to Oct. 11. Another man, 18-year-old Brady Simon Hashem, is also facing charges in connection with the same incident, according to a Crown prosecutor handling the file. Hashem is next scheduled to appear in court Oct. 17. The Regina Public School Board dealt with the matter behind closed doors at its Sept. 19 meeting. However, the minutes of the board's decision are embargoed until the Oct. 3 meeting and a call to the board office was not returned. School board policy states employees must pass a criminal record check prior to being hired and any charges laid against the employee after that time must be disclosed to the board within two working days. The board would then have a number of options available to deal with the situation. An official with the school board said earlier this week if there is a safety issue, with either staff or students, normally the individual is taken out of the school, reassigned or sent home. Noreen Faulconer, co-chairwoman of the school's parent-teacher council, said she doesn't know any more about the charges or what happened to the teacher than what she learned on Monday from reporters calling her at home for comment. "I haven't heard anything officially from the school or the board office," Faulconer said Friday evening. When advised that the teacher had been suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the charges, Faulconer replied: "That's good to hear." - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl