A preschool teacher who refused to take a drug test will have to take one every three months for the next year if she wants to keep her job.
Bobbette Hanna Harrington of Kreative Kidz Childcare Centre in Rotorua told her boss in September 2015 she'd smoked cannabis in the past.
Her boss organised regular, random drug testing in February the following year, and in April Ms Harrington was chosen.
Told she'd lose her job if she didn't take the test, Ms Harrington instead opted to resign. A month later she got a new job at another early childhood centre, Te Whare Whitinga o te Rā.
In the meantime however her former employer reported Ms Harrington to the Education Council. Te Whare Whitinga o te Rā was aware of the situation, and offered its full support, according to the Education Council's report on the matter.
The council ruled Ms Harrington's behaviour "reflects adversely on her fitness to teach" and "is of a nature that brings the teaching profession into disrepute".
Her use of cannabis was said to be "the antithesis of the standard expected, irrespective of the setting, personal or professional, in which it occurs", considering teachers are expected to "both teach and model positive values for their students".
It acknowledged however it had no way of knowing when Ms Harrington's use occurred, or if it was regular or a "one-off lapse in judgement". There was no evidence Ms Harrington was ever under the influence while at work.
A recent drug test Ms Harrington willingly undertook came back negative.
For the next year, Ms Harrington will have to undergo mandatory testing every three months. She'll also have to pay $1565 to the Education Council's Complaints Assessment Committee, and 40 percent of the Disciplinary Tribunal's costs of holding the hearing.
She'll also have to advise any future would-be employers in the next 12 months of the decision.
Neither the daycare centre nor Ms Harrington asked for the decision to be kept a secret.
Newshub.
