An Iowa high school teacher was arrested this week after he showed up drunk to the prom he was to chaperone.
Okoboji High School teacher Royce Van Roekel, 33, was arrested on Saturday after someone reported that he was drunk, WHO-TV reported.
Milford police said that Van Roekel, who was a business teacher and cross country coach, had blood-alcohol content (BAC) of more than twice the legal limit at 0.191.
He was arrested and taken to jail. He later pleaded guilty to public intoxication.
Parents were furious.
“They don’t want them (the students) coming to the prom drunk or with drugs on them, so why would the teacher be allowed to,” said Stacy Lockey, parent, according to KTIV.
The Okoboji Community Schools’ superintendent didn’t say what would happen to Van Roekel, but stressed it would be handled “administratively.”
“As many of you are aware there was an incident during the OHS prom on Saturday, April 30,” a school statement said, according to the Spencer Daily Reporter. “A staff member who was assigned to chaperone during a portion of the evening arrived under the influence of alcohol.”
“We regret that this situation occurred and are limited in the information we can share due to the fact that this is a private personnel issue that is being handled administratively according to school board policy and Iowa Code,” the statement added. “As is common in cases like this there is some inaccurate information circulating as well.”
He resigned from his position Tuesday. Board members accepted his resignation and it will be effective June 1, KTTN reported.
The fine and court charges cost him about $225, reported KTIV.
The district said that no student safety was compromised and no alcohol was consumed by either students or staff.
