At least one Carson City School District official is troubled by the outcome of Friday's misdemeanor driving under the influence guilty plea by Carson Middle School Principal Sam Santillo.
School board trustee president Norm Scoggin said he's "amazed" that a misdemeanor charge of possession of less than an ounce of marijuana was dropped by the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.
"What amazed me in reference to the charges is that the marijuana charge was dropped," Scoggin said Saturday. "We have tremendous anti-drug and marijuana policies in the schools. I was somewhat disappointed that they dropped the charge in the possession of the illegal substance — as if to say it doesn't matter. It does matter a great deal. We suspend or expel students for possession and/or consumption at school.
Santillo, 45, pled guilty on Friday in a Reno courtroom to driving under the influence after he was stopped in a construction zone for speeding on May 28. The Carson Middle School principal failed field sobriety tests and his blood alcohol level was .136, according to KRNV News 4 Reno, which was in court for the guilty plea.
Santillo faced four misdemeanor charges, including DUI, open container, speeding and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Scoggin said the board will take up the matter soon to discuss what disciplinary measures will be made as recommended by the district's superintendent.
All aspects of the charges and accusations will be reviewed by the board "and we will proceed in the best interest of the school district on this point," he said.
"I am just one vote on the school board. We have seven members and all of us will be discussing the issue at the meeting," Scoggin said. "We are going to look out for what is best for Carson City, the students and the school. We cannot let personalities in on it. We have to look at our community, and when I say community I mean the students, parents, staff, taxpayers — and look at what is best and then take action accordingly."
on Friday, school board trustee Steve Reynolds said future decisions will be made in the best interest of the district.
"The situation is a concern to the school district and to the school board," Reynolds said. "We are going to act in the best interest of the district when we have all the information. It is not a good situation, of course, and we are not pleased with what happened but it is a personnel matter and much of our discussion and the things that go on, will have to be handled confidentially because of that. We will do our best to act in the best interest of the school district."