TROY---Based on an anonymous tip and a month-long investigation, Troy Police arrested a special education teacher and her daughter Monday on charges of marijuana possession after authorities executed a search warrant at their Lavin Court home.

Doris Kurick, 54, who has taught in the Troy City School District since 1988 and most recently at the Carroll Hill Elementary School, and her daughter, Cleo Kurick, 21, are accused of growing marijuana in the basement of their residence. They are no charges that they were selling the marijuana but police did find several packages of the drug worth several thousand dollars. five pre-packaged pounds of the drug.

Troy City School District officers met in executive session Wednesday night to discuss Kurick and asked her not to return to school until they school board and superintendent have had a chance to meet. She has not been suspended but in keeping with school policy, the matter has been reported to the state Education Department who will decide if any action should be taken regarding Kurick's teaching certification.

School Superintendent Lonnie Palmer issued a written statement in which he said "We take matters like this very seriously. However, we cannot comment directly on this case as that would compromise legal restrictions on the confidentiality of personnel issues," Superintendent Lonnie Palmer said in a written statement. "Without prejudging this individual's guilt or innocence, I would like to stress that our administration does not condone any drug-related behavior or activity by district employees."

Both the teacher and her daughter have been charged with second degree possession of marijuana, a felony. Doris Kurick has also been charged with unlawfully growing marijuana, a misdemeanor. Doris Kurick reportedly told police that her daughter was not involved in the growing operation.

If convicted, the could both face up to seven years in prison.

Both have posted $5,000 bail and have been released from the Rensselaer County Jail.

Troy Police Sgt. John Cooney said that authorities had no reason to believe that Kurick was actively selling the drug but "certainly there was enough being grown where she was liberally sharing it with her peers". He said when executing the search warrant, officers found drying rooms, growth rooms, seeding rooms, ventilation, humidity control, "all the very professional equipment needed to effectively grow cannabis". 3-22-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette