News from July 19, 2007 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press (4 pages) PDF
(Selected pages 1A, 2A, 3A, 14A)
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Kindergarten teacher, 25, arrested on drug charges
It's still unclear whether a Crittenden County kindergarten teacher will be on the job next month after being arrested last week on drug charges. Her fate ultimately rests in the hands of her uncle, Superintendent John Belt.
Amy Tabor, 25, of Marion remained in jail Tuesday morning after being arrested by state police early Friday morning in Trigg County on felony and misdemeanor drug charges. She and a passenger in her car, Dylan Winn of Ledbetter were initially stopped by Trooper T.J. Williams for speeding on Interstate 24. An ensuing search of Tabor's vehicle led to the discovery of a half gram of alleged methamphetamine, 19 Lortabs, a single dose of methadone and other drug paraphernalia.
"Friday the 13th was not a good day for Crittenden County Schools or for me personally," Superintendent Belt said in a news release Monday on board of education letterhead which he hand delivered The Press. In that same release, he acknowledged his relationship to Tabor, who has taught at Crittenden County Elementary School the last four years and was on staff prior to Belt being hired as superintendent.
Tabor was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (meth), as well as first-degree possession of a drug paraphernalia, two counts of second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a controlled substance in an improper container.
Winn, 27, was also charged with felony possession of meth.
On Tuesday in Trigg County court, the teacher waved arraignment. A pre-trial date has been set for July 31 in Cadiz.
Tabor and Winn remained lodged in Christian County Jail on $10,000 bond as of presstime Tuesday evening.
Whether Tabor will be back in her classroom when students report for the first day of school on Aug. 8 remains questionable.
"I will obviously investigate and get the facts on this matter and make a decision based on board policy," Belt told The Press Monday morning as to whether the teacher would be suspended.
The superintendent said suspension of a teacher is based upon situational charges and whether the educator is deemed a threat to student safety. Board policy, he said, allows for dismissal on several specific infractions, as well as conduct unbecoming a teacher.
"That covers many situations," Belt.
Starting his third year as head of the school system, Belt has 30 days from the time charges were filed to inform the state's educational professional standards board of the charges against Tabor. He said he plans to do so this week.
Once the standards board is notified, it will determine over a lengthy process whether to allow Tabor to keep her teaching certificate.
"If deemed probable cause, it would be acted upon," said Alicia Sneed, director of ethics/legal services for the Frankfort-based board.
Sneed said in any such situation, the board could suspend or revoke a person's certification to teach in Kentucky. It could also issue a formal reprimand or dismiss the case. In the interim, she said, it is entirely a local board decision whether to suspend or terminate an employee.