A first-grade teacher in Pennsylvania is accused of leaving her classroom for a lunchtime alcohol run, crashing her car on return, and then locking herself in a school bathroom while her pupils were left unattended.
Katharine Viviano, 50, a first-grade educator at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in McMurray, Pennsylvania, US, has been charged with public drunkenness following the incident on October 8. Investigators say the drama began at around 11am when surveillance footage showed Viviano leaving the school campus and driving to a nearby Fine Wine & Good Spirits store, WPXI-TV reported, citing police. WTAE also reported that the footage captured her trip.
Crash and Locked Bathroom
Cops allege she bought alcohol and then returned to the school. This is where she is accused of backing her car into another parked vehicle in the school car park before staggering back inside. Most alarming of all, police say her first-grade class was left entirely unattended while she was gone.
The situation escalated moments later inside the classroom, where Viviano is alleged to have locked herself in an internal bathroom, the New York Post reported. Another teacher entered the room, noticed the children were on their own, and found Viviano inside the restroom in a semi-conscious state.
Staff Response and Charges
Police reportedly say she initially refused to respond or come out. A group of staff - including the headteacher, school nurse, a school resource officer and a police social services co-ordinator - gathered to coax her from the bathroom. When she eventually emerged, officers claimed she could not walk without help, smelled strongly of alcohol, slurred her speech and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, AOL reported. Police also reported she admitted drinking vodka earlier in the day, but refused a portable breath test.
As staff and police dealt with the alleged incident, the children were reportedly moved out to a playground and later reassigned to another classroom. The Peters Township School District initially told parents Viviano had suffered a “medical emergency”, but later confirmed police had filed citations.
District Statement
“The Peters Township Police Department conducted an investigation into the incident and, as a result, charges have been filed against the teacher for public drunkenness,” the district said in a statement. “We understand that this information will be concerning to families, but please know that the safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority...”
“Our focus remains on supporting the students impacted by this incident and ensuring a safe, stable, and positive learning environment for the remainder of the school year.” It is unclear whether Viviano was formally placed on leave. The district has also declined to confirm whether she has been sacked, saying it is an active personnel matter and criminal investigation, CBS News reported.
