Brazil, INDIANA

Middle schoolers in Brazil, Indiana, will have bragging rights on Monday.

Jan 13, 2008 - Two women were arrested after an early evening vehicle accident. A 2003 Jeep Liberty was in a ditch, standing nearly vertical with its front end up in the air. The driver registered 0.12 blood alcohol content. Police found marijuana on her.

The driver, Melinda Ellis, 35, a White River teacher, faces four misdemeanor charges, including possesion of marijuana, paraphernalia, operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content over 0.08 and operating while intoxicated while endangering another person.

The passenger, Anita Miller, 41, a physical education teacher at North Clay Middle School, was arrested on charges of public intoxication, public nudity, and disorderly conduct. Miller's blood alcohol content registered 0.17. Officers say at one point she stumbled out into the roadway, dropped her pants to her ankles and began to urinate on the ground.

At the jail, Miller's "raucous behavior continued." While in book-in, she dropped her pants again, exposing herself to the jail staff. Officers put her in a padded cell.

Jan 13 - Miller spoke to New 10 herself and said that she thought the whole thing was blown out of proportion and claims she was not a passenger in the car even though she was at the scene.

Jan 18 - The school board met briefly to discuss what immediate steps to take. They voted to continue Miller's suspension with pay. School administration will be conducting an investigation into Miller's actions after which, the board will then decide whether or not to terminate Miller's contract.

White River Valley School District will meet next week to discuss the future of Melinda Ellis.
Both teachers will be in court Feb 11. Ellis resigned from her job, according to INDY6.

Mar 4 - Clay Community School Board will conduct a special meeting at 7 tonight to decide whether to cancel Miller's contract.

VOTE TO CANCEL MILLER'S CONTRACT Mar 5 - Members of the School Board of Clay Community Schools accepted Superintendent Dan Schroeder’s recommendation and unanimously voted to cancel Anita Miller’s contract. Two of the seven board members weren’t present.The board had no questions or discussion about the issue before the vote. The meeting lasted about two minutes. Her attorney said they are likely to appeal by seeking judicial review of the case.

Miller’s case is set for trial June 13.

LAWSUIT September 1 - Miller is suing to get her job back. She is petitioning the Clay County Civil Court for a judicial review of her March dismissal.

Court documents state the school board concluded from the testimony given at the February hearing that Miller's actions "offended the morals of the community and set a very bad example to the students of Clay Community Schools."

She is scheduled to appear for a jury trial set Dec. 15 on the criminal charges.