An elementary school teacher who was drunk during a field trip with students was paid over $18,000 after she resigned. Maria Caya left the Janesville School District after she was found to be intoxicated while supervising fourth and fifth graders during a bowling outing in June.
School Board president Greg Ardrey told a Madison television station that he doesn’t feel good about the large payment to Caya. “This is not a good situation, but it became what made sense as the best solution overall for everybody,” Ardrey told WKOW TV.
The district said the $18,452 was in the form of unused sick leave. Also, Caya will recieve health and dental benefits through this month. In exchange, she agreed not to sue the school district for any reason. She resigned in July.
Teachers’ union president Dave Parr told WKOW that the deal is consistent with other district teachers who’ve resigned. The union’s contract recently ended due to the state’s Act 10 bargaining limits — and the union secretary said that leaves the value of unpaid sick leave unclear. Caya had taught for 14 years in the Janesville schools.