Teacher’s motel job prompts district probe

By Emily Richmond

Monday, May 9, 2005 | 10:45 a.m.

A math teacher's moonlighting gig as manager of a motel frequented by prostitutes is now the subject of a Clark County School District investigation.

Edward Kammer, who has taught math in the district since 1998, was hired by his father-in-law three years ago to manage the Del Mar motel. After three hours of testimony from Metro Police, who investigated activities at the Del Mar, the Las Vegas City Council voted 6-0 to revoke the motel's license because it was being used by so many prostitutes. No criminal charges have been filed against the motel's operators.

Lina Guiterrez, executive director of licensed personnel for the school district, said Kammer's employment file has been forwarded to the district's legal department.

"There will be an intensive investigation," Guiterrez said.

A woman who answered the telephone at Kammer's Henderson residence on Friday said he would not return a call from the Sun seeking comment.

She said Kammer was told by school district officials "if there was any publicity he would lose his job."

"That's why he didn't go to the (Las Vegas City Council) hearing," she said.

State statute allows school districts to discipline teachers for a variety of offenses, including "immorality" and "unprofessional conduct."

The Nevada Education Department, which is responsible for licensing teachers and handing down disciplinary measures from suspension to revocation, typically does not take action until a local school district recommends a case for review.

A criminal charge is not a prerequisite for disciplinary action to be taken against an employee, said Bill Hoffman, senior counsel for the district.

"When we hear about potential misconduct we investigate and find out what the facts are then take appropriate measures," Hoffman said. "That is what we'll do in this case."

Attorneys for the motel's owner, Edgar Wrenn, said he was surprised by the police evidence that prostitutes were frequenting the establishment. The day-to-day operations of the Del Mar had been left up to Kammer, the attorneys said.

At Wednesday's City Council hearing Wrenn described himself as an absentee owner. Since Kammer, his son-in-law, took over, Wrenn's revenue from the hotel had tripled to $500,000 annually, according to the attorneys.

Kammer earned $105,000 a year managing the motel, according to his father-in-law. Kammer's annual school district salary is $49,000.

School district employees are free to take on outside work provided it doesn't interfere with their district jobs, Hoffman said. The first question that must be answered is whether Kammer's duties as motel manager compromised his teaching abilities, Hoffman said.

John Jasonek, executive director of the Clark County Education Association, said it's not unusual for teachers to take on additional jobs during vacation breaks, nights or weekends.

Article 36 of the district's teacher contract states, "The personal life of a teacher is not an appropriate concern of the district and, therefore, shall not affect the teacher's employment status except when it has a legally relevant connection to the teacher's employment."

Jasonek noted that while the allegations surrounding activities at the motel are seedy and unpleasant, Kammer has not been charged with a crime.

"Unless there's more here than meets the eye, it should be a non-issue as far as the district is concerned," Jasonek said. "If the guy was working as a bartender and was arrested for selling liquor to a minor, then there would be an issue. It all boils down to legality."

Robert Correales, assistant professor at UNLV's Boyd School of Law, said being associated with a "house of ill repute" probably isn't enough for the district to show cause for firing a teacher.

"There's no criminal charge against him (Kammer) or anybody else, just a licensing issue with the motel," said Correales, who teaches employment law. "And under the First Amendment, they (district officials) cannot tell a teacher who they may associate with."

At Valley High School Friday, students said many of their teachers had talked about working second jobs, ranging from delivering pizzas to exotic dancing.

"As long as it (moonlighting) doesn't end up in the classroom I don't think it really matters," Valley senior David Meeks said.

Junior Alexis Hines disagreed, saying she had been surprised and shocked to learn of Kammer's connection to the Del Mar.

"Teachers can work extra jobs but not that job," Hines said.

Her mother, Zina Herndon, was more forgiving.

"This is Sin City, wherever you work you'll probably come in contact with something that's not suitable for children," Herndon said. "But as long as they're not breaking the law, a buck's a buck, I guess."

Craig Walton, UNLV professor emeritus of ethics and policy, said teachers are rightly held to high moral standards because of the influence they hold over their students.

"You do not leave your profession at the campus when you come home," said Walton, president of the Nevada Center for Public Ethics. "You're a teacher seven days a week, all year long in the eyes of your students, even after they've left your classroom and moved on."

What constitutes "immorality," and whether or not a teacher's actions meet that threshold, is a question for the community as a whole, not just the school district, Walton said.

"The problem would be how to draw that line without interfering with personal freedom," Walton said.

Most Clark County teachers likely recognize the value of discretion when it comes to moonlighting, Walton said.

"There are 15,000 teachers and the other 14,999, if they're supplementing their income, aren't raising any warning lights on the signal board," Walton said.