Marshall ISD to Handle Educator’s DWI “Internally”

MARSHALL — Following the DWI arrest of an MISD assistant principal, Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing noted Monday the administration was handling the situation internally. Melissa Renee Fincher, 39, the assistant principal at Price T. Young Middle School, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning by DPS officers in Marion County for driving under the influence. When asked about the school’s policy regarding such arrests, Gearing said according to the policy, Ms. Fincher “really doesn’t have to report it to a supervisor unless it is the second (occurrence) within a 12-month period.”

Following her arrest, Ms. Fincher was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall to test her blood alcohol concentration level. She was then booked into Marion County Jail and later released on a personal recognizance bond. Driving while intoxicated, first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. If convicted, the punishment range is confinement in the county jail for a term of no less than 72 hours or no more than six months.