Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jun 2007
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Copyright: 2007 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.starbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

TESTING SHOULD DETER TEACHERS' DRUG DEALING

THE ISSUE A Kailua public school teacher faces a prison  term for her
activities dealing in cocaine and Ecstasy.

THE tragic downfall of a bright and talented Kailua  school teacher
caught up in the sordid world of illegal  drugs confirms the wisdom of
random drug testing of  public school teachers. Testing authority was
enacted  by this year's Legislature, following recent arrests of
Bronwyn Marie Kugle and three other teachers on drug  charges.

Kugle, 38, resigned from her job as resource teacher at  Kaelepulu
Elementary School days after her arrest in  February on drug charges.
She was accused of paying  more than $40,000 to buy two pounds of
cocaine and  nearly 1,000 Ecstasy tablets by mail from the mainland
for local sales, having refinanced her Kailua home to  pay for the
purchase.

Her own use of crystal methamphetamine and cocaine put  her on a
wayward path to a possible prison sentence of  five years or more and
loss of her house. Kugle, who  has two sons and a daughter, called her
arrest "a  blessing in disguise," saying she has been drug-free  since
then.

Lee Anzai used similar language to describe his arrest  on drug
charges for selling drugs to an undercover  police officer last year
from a classroom where he  taught special-education students at
Leilehua High  School. Anzai, a longtime drug addict, was sentenced in
  federal court this month to a four-year prison term.

One can only conjecture whether random drug testing  would have
prompted Kugle or Anzai to halt their  illegal activities or seek help
within the Department  of Education. What is known is that teachers
have been  able to engage in illegal drug use and dealing without
being detected and exposed by colleagues.
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