Stonebridge Elementary Staff Member on Leave after being Intoxicated at Work

A staff member at Stonebridge Elementary School has been placed on administrative leave after she was found to be intoxicated while at work this week.

The staff member had a .233 blood alcohol level, according to police.

Stonebridge Principal Derek Berg said he’s limited as to what he can say about the incident, but confirmed that a staff member was suspected to be intoxicated at work on Tuesday, police were called and confirmed that suspicion and the matter is now being handled internally by the school district.

No criminal charges were filed.

According to the school’s website, Molly Kathleen Lalim, 35, of Osceola, Wis., is a special education paraprofessional at the school.

Berg said the school will continue to investigate the incident, and determine an appropriate course of action when the investigation is complete.

According to the police report:

Stillwater Police were called to Stonebridge at about 2:40 p.m. on April 2 after staff members told Berg they believed Lalim was intoxicated.

Staff members prevented her from leaving the building, and confiscated Lalim's keys.

When police arrived, Lalim denied drinking during the day, and stated that the indicators of intoxication were the result of alcohol she consumed the night before.

Police conducted a preliminary breath test to ensure she could drive home safely—the result of that test was a reading of .233, according to police.

That’s nearly three times the legal limit of .08.

Police told Lalim and Berg the result of the test, to which Lalim reportedly said “that is normal…” and maintained she hadn’t had a drink since going to bed at midnight.

Police advised Lalim that at this time of day to have a .233 blood alcohol level from the night before would indicate she had a “dangerously toxic” level of alcohol in her system at midnight.”

She reportedly told police, “I may have a problem.”

Berg said the employee was removed from the building and given a safe ride home.

Police and school officials looked inside Lalim's car, and reportedly saw a bottle of “unknown” alcohol in a bag in plain sight in the back of her vehicle.