<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff><FONT size=4>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN class=bigheadline><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">Teacher fired
over controversy</SPAN></B></SPAN><BR></FONT><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Geneva">Posted: Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 -
08:16:43 am PDT</SPAN></I><BR><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
class=smheadline11>By BRIAN <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">WALKER</st1:City></st1:place></SPAN><BR><SPAN class=smheadline11>Staff
writer</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN class=smheadline11></SPAN></FONT></FONT><B>Two
other educators resign, four students expelled by school</B><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
class=story1>POST</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN class=story1> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">FALLS</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN class=story1> -- A Post
Falls Christian Academy high school teacher has been fired, two other teachers
have resigned, four students have been expelled and at least one coach said he
doesn't plan to return as a result of an alcohol incident last
weekend.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=story1>Jerry Rodgers, who administers the
private school with wife Janet, said math teacher Lisa Biondo, 26, has been
fired and that John Rodriguez, the praise leader, and wife Letha, a home
economics teacher, have resigned.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=story1>At least two
of the expelled students are seniors who were expecting to graduate in just over
a month. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<DIV>
<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable
style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-table-lspace: 2.25pt; mso-table-rspace: 2.25pt; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-table-left: right; mso-table-top: middle"
cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes">
<TD
style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><!--[ad:_middle]--><!--[include:jcarter_ad_middle.txt]-->
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 2.25pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly"
align=center>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript
src="http://www.cdapress.com/shared-content/adsys/creative.js"
type=text/javascript>
</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>
aAds = new Array();
aAds[0] = new Array();
aAds[0][0] = '+instory';
aAds[0][1] = '22538';
aAds[0][2] = 'gif';
aAds[0][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/carpet_warehouse_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.carpetwarehousecoeurdalene.com';
aAds[0][4] = '1';
aAds[1] = new Array();
aAds[1][0] = '+instory';
aAds[1][1] = '21849';
aAds[1][2] = 'gif';
aAds[1][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/midway_auto_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.gotomidway.com';
aAds[1][4] = '1';
aAds[2] = new Array();
aAds[2][0] = '+instory';
aAds[2][1] = '22018';
aAds[2][2] = 'gif';
aAds[2][3] = 'http://mfryman.hometownlending.us/';
aAds[2][4] = '1';
aAds[3] = new Array();
aAds[3][0] = '+instory';
aAds[3][1] = '21796';
aAds[3][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[3][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/runge_ad.txt';
aAds[3][4] = '1';
aAds[4] = new Array();
aAds[4][0] = '+instory';
aAds[4][1] = '21794';
aAds[4][2] = 'gif';
aAds[4][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/carpet_warehouse_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.carpetwarehousecoeurdalene.com';
aAds[4][4] = '1';
aAds[5] = new Array();
aAds[5][0] = '+instory';
aAds[5][1] = '22255';
aAds[5][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[5][3] = 'http://www.coldwellbanker-idaho.com';
aAds[5][4] = '1';
aAds[6] = new Array();
aAds[6][0] = '+instory';
aAds[6][1] = '21258';
aAds[6][2] = 'gif';
aAds[6][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/suriano_splash.txt?splash_link=http://www.nimcc.com';
aAds[6][4] = '1';
aAds[7] = new Array();
aAds[7][0] = '+instory';
aAds[7][1] = '21792';
aAds[7][2] = 'gif';
aAds[7][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/border_sheet_metal_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.bordersheetmetal.com';
aAds[7][4] = '1';
aAds[8] = new Array();
aAds[8][0] = '+instory';
aAds[8][1] = '21793';
aAds[8][2] = 'gif';
aAds[8][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/fairway_floors_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.fairwayfloor.com';
aAds[8][4] = '1';
aAds[9] = new Array();
aAds[9][0] = '+instory';
aAds[9][1] = '21456';
aAds[9][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[9][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/hope_realty_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.hoperealtyidaho.com&splash_email=info@hoperealtyidaho.com';
aAds[9][4] = '1';
aAds[10] = new Array();
aAds[10][0] = '+instory';
aAds[10][1] = '21464';
aAds[10][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[10][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/AdvanceSurgical_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.surgicalorthopedics.com';
aAds[10][4] = '1';
aAds[11] = new Array();
aAds[11][0] = '+instory';
aAds[11][1] = '21466';
aAds[11][2] = 'gif';
aAds[11][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/guardian_angel_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.guardianangelhomes.com';
aAds[11][4] = '1';
aAds[12] = new Array();
aAds[12][0] = '+instory';
aAds[12][1] = '21775';
aAds[12][2] = 'gif';
aAds[12][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/Adelphia_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.adelphia.com';
aAds[12][4] = '1';
aAds[13] = new Array();
aAds[13][0] = '+instory';
aAds[13][1] = '22010';
aAds[13][2] = 'gif';
aAds[13][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/copperbasin_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.copperbasin.com';
aAds[13][4] = '1';
aAds[14] = new Array();
aAds[14][0] = '+instory';
aAds[14][1] = '22014';
aAds[14][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[14][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/church_directory_ad.txt';
aAds[14][4] = '1';
aAds[15] = new Array();
aAds[15][0] = '+instory';
aAds[15][1] = '22015';
aAds[15][2] = 'gif';
aAds[15][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/helpusell_ad.txt';
aAds[15][4] = '1';
aAds[16] = new Array();
aAds[16][0] = '+instory';
aAds[16][1] = '22190';
aAds[16][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[16][3] = 'http://www.cdarealty.com';
aAds[16][4] = '1';
displayAd('http://adsys.townnews.com', 'cdapress.com', aAds);
</SCRIPT>
</P></TD></TR><NOSCRIPT>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=story1>"We have zero tolerance for
alcohol," Jerry Rodgers said. "We have brought on two counselors to
assist the kids."</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Rodgers declined to comment further.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Rafael Cansino, an assistant football coach at the school,
said he doesn't plan to coach at the school any longer because he, his younger
brother who was expelled, and his father, Ray, weren't allowed to present their
side of the story to the Rodgerses before the expulsions were decided. He said
he's seeking legal advice on the incident.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Cansino, who said he held the gathering at the vacant
residence owned by his father at 1200 <st1:place w:st="on">W. Deschutes</st1:place>,
said Biondo wasn't drinking with the students during the bust despite police
reports that state otherwise. During an interview with The Press, Biondo denied
she was drinking at the time and said she didn't realize students would be
there.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Cansino said he only supplied alcohol to his two sisters,
both of legal age. He also said the only minors who were drinking were two
girls who came to the party uninvited with their own beer.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Cansino, who was cited for supplying minors with alcohol on
Tuesday, said it was a blanket raid and that police only performed one alcohol
test at the scene.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Post Falls Police Lt. Greg McLean said that was because all
of the students who were issued minor-in-possession citations admitted to
consuming alcohol.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>"The kids admitted to consuming alcohol at the scene
when Detective (Rod) Gunderson interviewed them," <st1:place w:st="on">McLean</st1:place>
said.</span><br>
<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><span class=story1>McLean</span></st1:place><span
class=story1> also said that several of the students told police that Biando
was consuming alcohol, but she wasn't seen carrying it.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Athena Cansino, Rafael's sister, defended Biando, her
friend.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>"She was invited there by me," Athena said.
"She had nothing to do with the students."</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Athena said some of the busted minors feared their parents,
and thus wanted everyone at the party to get ticketed by telling police the
others were drinking.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Rafael Cansino said he was responsible for the minors who
were consuming alcohol at the residence, but he didn't want to let them drive
away drunk.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Meanwhile, Letha Rodriguez said she and her husband resigned
because of "unfair practices" with administration and inconsistent
disciplinary action against students and staff. Their child was among those
expelled.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>"Mrs. Biondo was warned (about inappropriate behavior)
last year, and we were told that she was allowed to stay on because they needed
a good math teacher," Rodriguez said. "This (weekend incident) was
the result of them not taking action immediately, but since she was caught,
they now have to fire her."</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>She said she's also upset that students who were caught for
the first time are being punished the same as repeat offenders, and that one of
the students who was expelled wasn't even at the incident over the weekend, but
at a party on a different day.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>The school's tough approach in the aftermath also troubles
Rodriguez.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>"The Rodgerses will not accept apologies of the
children who want to apologize," she said.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=story1>Determination about any criminal charges against Biando has
been referred to city prosecutor Joel Ryan to review.</span><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<!--EndFragment-->
</body>
</html>
</NOSCRIPT></TBODY></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://adsys.townnews.com/41797214176524/creative/cdapress.com/+instory/22014.jpg?r=http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/church_directory_ad.txt"
target=_blank><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none"><SPAN
style="mso-ignore: vglayout"></SPAN></SPAN></A> </DIV><SPAN>
<DIV>
<TABLE class=cltable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD align=middle><!--[ad:_middle]--><!--[include:jcarter_ad_middle.txt]-->
<SCRIPT language=javascript
src="http://www.cdapress.com/shared-content/adsys/creative.js"
type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript>
aAds = new Array();
aAds[0] = new Array();
aAds[0][0] = '+instory';
aAds[0][1] = '22538';
aAds[0][2] = 'gif';
aAds[0][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/carpet_warehouse_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.carpetwarehousecoeurdalene.com';
aAds[0][4] = '1';
aAds[1] = new Array();
aAds[1][0] = '+instory';
aAds[1][1] = '21849';
aAds[1][2] = 'gif';
aAds[1][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/midway_auto_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.gotomidway.com';
aAds[1][4] = '1';
aAds[2] = new Array();
aAds[2][0] = '+instory';
aAds[2][1] = '22018';
aAds[2][2] = 'gif';
aAds[2][3] = 'http://mfryman.hometownlending.us/';
aAds[2][4] = '1';
aAds[3] = new Array();
aAds[3][0] = '+instory';
aAds[3][1] = '21796';
aAds[3][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[3][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/runge_ad.txt';
aAds[3][4] = '1';
aAds[4] = new Array();
aAds[4][0] = '+instory';
aAds[4][1] = '21794';
aAds[4][2] = 'gif';
aAds[4][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/carpet_warehouse_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.carpetwarehousecoeurdalene.com';
aAds[4][4] = '1';
aAds[5] = new Array();
aAds[5][0] = '+instory';
aAds[5][1] = '22255';
aAds[5][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[5][3] = 'http://www.coldwellbanker-idaho.com';
aAds[5][4] = '1';
aAds[6] = new Array();
aAds[6][0] = '+instory';
aAds[6][1] = '21258';
aAds[6][2] = 'gif';
aAds[6][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/suriano_splash.txt?splash_link=http://www.nimcc.com';
aAds[6][4] = '1';
aAds[7] = new Array();
aAds[7][0] = '+instory';
aAds[7][1] = '21792';
aAds[7][2] = 'gif';
aAds[7][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/border_sheet_metal_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.bordersheetmetal.com';
aAds[7][4] = '1';
aAds[8] = new Array();
aAds[8][0] = '+instory';
aAds[8][1] = '21793';
aAds[8][2] = 'gif';
aAds[8][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/fairway_floors_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.fairwayfloor.com';
aAds[8][4] = '1';
aAds[9] = new Array();
aAds[9][0] = '+instory';
aAds[9][1] = '21456';
aAds[9][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[9][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/hope_realty_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.hoperealtyidaho.com&splash_email=info@hoperealtyidaho.com';
aAds[9][4] = '1';
aAds[10] = new Array();
aAds[10][0] = '+instory';
aAds[10][1] = '21464';
aAds[10][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[10][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/AdvanceSurgical_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.surgicalorthopedics.com';
aAds[10][4] = '1';
aAds[11] = new Array();
aAds[11][0] = '+instory';
aAds[11][1] = '21466';
aAds[11][2] = 'gif';
aAds[11][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/guardian_angel_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.guardianangelhomes.com';
aAds[11][4] = '1';
aAds[12] = new Array();
aAds[12][0] = '+instory';
aAds[12][1] = '21775';
aAds[12][2] = 'gif';
aAds[12][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/Adelphia_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.adelphia.com';
aAds[12][4] = '1';
aAds[13] = new Array();
aAds[13][0] = '+instory';
aAds[13][1] = '22010';
aAds[13][2] = 'gif';
aAds[13][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/copperbasin_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.copperbasin.com';
aAds[13][4] = '1';
aAds[14] = new Array();
aAds[14][0] = '+instory';
aAds[14][1] = '22014';
aAds[14][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[14][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/church_directory_ad.txt';
aAds[14][4] = '1';
aAds[15] = new Array();
aAds[15][0] = '+instory';
aAds[15][1] = '22015';
aAds[15][2] = 'gif';
aAds[15][3] = 'http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/helpusell_ad.txt';
aAds[15][4] = '1';
aAds[16] = new Array();
aAds[16][0] = '+instory';
aAds[16][1] = '22190';
aAds[16][2] = 'jpg';
aAds[16][3] = 'http://www.cdarealty.com';
aAds[16][4] = '1';
displayAd('http://adsys.townnews.com', 'cdapress.com', aAds);
</SCRIPT>
<NOSCRIPT>
<a
href='http://adsys.townnews.com/968706101/creative/cdapress.com/+instory/21464.jpg?r=http://www.cdapress.com/display_ads/AdvanceSurgical_ad.txt?splash_link=http://www.surgicalorthopedics.com'
target='_blank'><img border='0'
src='http://adsys.townnews.com/968706101/creative/cdapress.com/+instory/21464.jpg'
/></a>
</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story>"We have zero tolerance for alcohol," Jerry Rodgers said.
"We have brought on two counselors to assist the kids."<BR><BR>Rodgers declined
to comment further.<BR><BR>Rafael Cansino, an assistant football coach at the
school, said he doesn't plan to coach at the school any longer because he, his
younger brother who was expelled, and his father, Ray, weren't allowed to
present their side of the story to the Rodgerses before the expulsions were
decided. He said he's seeking legal advice on the incident.<BR><BR>Cansino, who
said he held the gathering at the vacant residence owned by his father at 1200
W. Deschutes, said Biondo wasn't drinking with the students during the bust
despite police reports that state otherwise. During an interview with The Press,
Biondo denied she was drinking at the time and said she didn't realize students
would be there.<BR><BR>Cansino said he only supplied alcohol to his two sisters,
both of legal age. He also said the only minors who were drinking were two girls
who came to the party uninvited with their own beer.<BR><BR>Cansino, who was
cited for supplying minors with alcohol on Tuesday, said it was a blanket raid
and that police only performed one alcohol test at the scene.<BR><BR>Post Falls
Police Lt. Greg McLean said that was because all of the students who were issued
minor-in-possession citations admitted to consuming alcohol.<BR><BR>"The kids
admitted to consuming alcohol at the scene when Detective (Rod) Gunderson
interviewed them," McLean said.<BR><BR>McLean also said that several of the
students told police that Biando was consuming alcohol, but she wasn't seen
carrying it.<BR><BR>Athena Cansino, Rafael's sister, defended Biando, her
friend.<BR><BR>"She was invited there by me," Athena said. "She had nothing to
do with the students."<BR><BR>Athena said some of the busted minors feared their
parents, and thus wanted everyone at the party to get ticketed by telling police
the others were drinking.<BR><BR>Rafael Cansino said he was responsible for the
minors who were consuming alcohol at the residence, but he didn't want to let
them drive away drunk.<BR><BR>Meanwhile, Letha Rodriguez said she and her
husband resigned because of "unfair practices" with administration and
inconsistent disciplinary action against students and staff. Their child was
among those expelled.<BR><BR>"Mrs. Biondo was warned (about inappropriate
behavior) last year, and we were told that she was allowed to stay on because
they needed a good math teacher," Rodriguez said. "This (weekend incident) was
the result of them not taking action immediately, but since she was caught, they
now have to fire her."<BR><BR>She said she's also upset that students who were
caught for the first time are being punished the same as repeat offenders, and
that one of the students who was expelled wasn't even at the incident over the
weekend, but at a party on a different day.<BR><BR>The school's tough approach
in the aftermath also troubles Rodriguez.<BR><BR>"The Rodgerses will not accept
apologies of the children who want to apologize," she said.<BR><BR>Determination
about any criminal charges against Biando has been referred to city prosecutor
Joel Ryan to review. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story>From <EM>The Coeur d'Alene Press</EM>,
04-28-05</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story><A
href="http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2005/04/28/news/news02.txt">http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2005/04/28/news/news02.txt</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story><BR>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<BR><A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>