Board votes to fire teacher accused of growing marijuana

AFTON, Okla. (AP) -- The Afton school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to fire a teacher accused of growing marijuana.

The five board members went into closed session after holding a due process hearing for Carolyn Weaver that lasted more than three hours.

School superintendent Randy Gardner recommended Mrs. Weaver, 49, be dismissed on grounds of incompetency, moral turpitude and willful neglect of duty.

Board members said they fired her on grounds of moral turpitude and willful neglect of duty, but dismissed the incompetency complaint.

Mrs. Weaver, her husband, Joe Weaver, 47, and their nephew Shane Weaver were arrested in August at the couple's rural residence and charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Weaver is the principal of Watts High School.

At the couple's preliminary hearing in September, felony charges were dropped against Mrs. Weaver, but Weaver was bound over for trial.

Mrs. Weaver still faces misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and is due back in court Wednesday.

Weaver also is scheduled for district court arraignment on Wednesday.

The couple was suspended without pay in August.

Weaver submitted his resignation Oct. 10 to school officials effective Dec. 31.