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Teacher's aide suspended over DUI
By KENT FISCHER, Times Staff Writer LAND O'LAKES -- The Pasco County School Board suspended a teacher's aide without pay on Tuesday night after school officials learned she had been ticketed for driving under the influence. Part of the aide's job is to drive children and their parents to local service agencies. The district hired the aide, Christine McKinnon-Viets, in August. Two days before she started work, McKinnon-Viets was ticketed, said Terry Rhum, a district administrator in the employee relations office. McKinnon-Viets did not tell her supervisors about the charges, Rhum said. McKinnon-Viets was charged on Aug. 8 after she was involved in an accident. A Breathalyzer recorded her blood alcohol level at 0.203, more than twice the legal limit. She was charged with DUI, DUI with property damage, DUI with bodily injury and driving without a valid license. Court records show it was the first time McKinnon-Viets had been charged with DUI. She pleaded no contest on Oct. 25 to the charge of DUI with property damage; the other three charges were dismissed. She received one year of probation, her driver's license was suspended for six months and she was ordered to attend classes on the dangers of driving while under the influence. The suspension, however, allows her to drive for work purposes. "Our concern is that she knew (safe driving) would be an expectation of her job and she didn't let us know" about the charges, Rhum said. The School Board suspended McKinnon-Viets indefinitely at its meeting Tuesday night. She faces a range of disciplinary action, which could include termination. The district learned of McKinnon-Viets' DUI charges after she was arrested in an unrelated incident over the Christmas holiday. The aide is a district employee who serves children and parents at a number of west Pasco schools. -- Kent Fischer covers education in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6241 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6241. His e-mail address is
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