FROM STAFF REPORTS
A contract substitute teacher faces misdemeanor charges after a resource officer at Third Creek Middle School found marijuana and alcoholic beverages among his possessions on Monday.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Thobani Viki, 30, of 5th Street, Statesville, in a news release. Viki is not an Iredell-Statesville Schools employee. He works for Educational Staffing Solutions, which contracts with I-SS to fill open positions.
After noticing a strong odor of marijuana coming from a classroom on Monday, staff members at Third Creek Middle immediately asked the ICSO resource officer to investigate, Campbell said.
The SRO entered the classroom and detected the odor of marijuana coming from the area of the teacher’s desk, according to the news release. When asked about the scent, Viki made statements about possessing marijuana, Campbell said.
The SRO searched Viki’s belongings and located marijuana, several packages of marijuana cigarette materials, and four cans of Twisted Tea, which is 5 percent alcohol by volume, according to the news release.
Viki was arrested at the school and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center. He was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and misdemeanor possession of a malt beverage on school property.
Magistrate M. Nethken issued a $10,000 secured bond on these charges.
“I am proud of the fast actions of Third Creek Middle School staff members as well as the investigation conducted by our School Resource Officer,” Campbell said. “This is a prime example of why having SROs at every school is so vital to the safety and security of our schools.”
According to the ICSO, Viki is currently on probation for DWI Level 5 in Alamance County.
I-SS officials said in a news release that Viki worked as a substitute teacher for 13 days at Third Creek Middle School. He was hired earlier this month by ESS, which contracted with in February 2021 to manage and staff substitutes.
Due to this incident, I-SS officials are reviewing the safety process and procedures taken by ESS before an employee is cleared to be in district buildings, according to the news release.
Viki is the second contract staffer arrested in an I-SS school this year. In January, a teacher assistant was charged with possession of wine in a classroom at Shepherd Elementary School. That staffer was employed by Stepping Stones Group, which also provides contract staffing for I-SS.
Nice! When I came up through the Statesville City School System, our teachers and principals wore a coat and tie everyday! Anyone remember Marlin Tate? He was a man that led by example, a man that wore a suit everyday! A man that everyone respected and feared a little bit. Today, the teachers and principals dress like clowns, wearing Carolina Panthers jerseys, dressing like the students. It’s no wonder we are where we are with today’s youth! There’s a real, serious lack of standards. You pay for what you get!
Agree ?
This person was NOT a teacher or administrator. Because it is hard to find substitutes, custodians and bus drivers, the school system has contracted with an outside firm (ESS) who finds and hires these people who actually work for the third party company (ESS). You are correct that there is a lack of traditional standards, but that is true of all society. Our schools merely reflect these changes in society unfortunately.
OMG. Whoever is in charge of working with the agency that is providing subs needs to be evaluated. What an absolute embarrassment for I-SS.
This truly saddeneds me. Our educational system needs severe changes. Respect for teachers seems to be at an all-time low. Stories like this flame the fire. I’m so thankful for the officers in our schools who protect students and staff.
If ALL staff were paid what they are worth, there would be no need for a sub to work that may days nor a need to hire an outside agency. If the school board was more supportive of the people that actually do the work, hiring and retaining good employees may not be such a problem. Our children are suffering because our educators are suffering as well as our flawed education system!
Stop it. A grown adult knows he shouldn’t not be bringing alcohol and weed to work. Especially when work is at a school full of children. This is his fault. Makes you wonder who else with great decision making skills is in direction of our children?