Sanborn Middle School principal Kathleen Laureti, 54, of 36 Raymond Road, Deerfield, was arrested Aug. 25 for driving while intoxicated, Raymond police Chief David Salois said.

An officer pulled Laureti over after seeing the principal driving erratically in a 1999 Subaru Outback on Route 27 just before 8 p.m., Salois said. Laureti failed a field sobriety test, but she refused to take a Breathalyzer test, according to Raymond police Sgt. Scott Payne.

A Breathalyzer would have indicated the amount of alcohol in her bloodstream, and Laureti will likely face the loss of her license for refusing to take the test, Payne said.

It's not clear whether the school district will take any action against Laureti.

Superintendent Keith Pfeifer declined to discuss the case because it's protected from public scrutiny as a personnel matter. Pfeifer said the district has not yet made any decisions.

"We're still waiting for everything to be adjudicated and all the information to come in," Pfeifer said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "But what people do outside of school is not a reflection of their position in the district."

Parent Joy Berg agrees that the incident has nothing to do with Laureti's competence.

"Of course it's irresponsible, but I don't think it has much effect on how she does her job," said Berg, who has two children in the Sanborn district. "It's certainly not a good example (for students), but it's really a personal matter."

Salois, the Raymond chief, said he believes people see the matter differently because of Laureti's position.

"I think there is an extra concern that it is a community official," Salois said. "However, it is going to be up to the individual employer to decide if the incident has anything to do with the person's job."

Lyonel Tracy, the state education commissioner, said many school districts have adopted employee assistance programs to be used in conjunction with, or instead of, penalties. But, Tracy said, specific penalties are at the discretion of the school district.

Pfeifer acknowledged that Sanborn has such a program, but said alcohol counseling is entirely voluntary. The district does not ask its employees for driving records, Pfeifer said.

Tracy said the state wouldn't get involved in this case. The state only steps in if a school employee is convicted of a felony.

Tracy also pointed out that districts usually avoid taking action unless an employee is convicted of a crime.

Reached by telephone, Laureti declined to comment on the incident.

Laureti faces a bench trial at Auburn District Court on Dec. 18.

Staff writer Michael Busack contributed to this report