Portland School Board member charged with OUI in Scarborough

PORTLAND — School Board member Jenna Vendil was arrested for allegedly operating under the influence June 27 in Scarborough.

Vendil, 30, of 38 Vesper St., is the District 1 representative. She was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. on the Interstate 295 connector.

Detective Sgt. Rick Rouse of the Scarborough Police Department said Vendil was pulled over after police “observed erratic operation” of her vehicle.

“(Officer Andrew Flynn) stopped her and put her through a field sobriety test, which led him to arresting her and bringing her back to Scarborough Police Department for a breath test,” Rouse said.

Rouse said Vendil did not pass the breath test, and was taken to the Cumberland County Jail on a charge of operating under the influence. She later made bail and was released.

Vendil, who was elected to the School Board in 2009, is nearing the end of her second term and has taken out nomination papers for re-election in November.

Vendil attended the board’s last meeting on June 30, but did not publicly acknowledge her arrest. She did not return a call for comment Monday.

School Board Chairwoman Sarah Thompson said she was aware of the arrest and that Vendil is “working through it as well.” Thompson said she didn’t have anything else to say about the matter.

Superintendent of Schools Emmanuel Caulk, who will soon leave the School Department to become school chief in Lexington, Kentucky, on Monday said he was aware of Vendil’s arrest, but would not discuss the pending legal matter.

“Instead, I will comment on Board Member Vendil’s stewardship on the Board,” Caulk said in an email. “Board Member Vendil has provided outstanding leadership and service to the students and families of Portland during my tenure. Board Member Vendil provided noteworthy service on both the curriculum and finance committees.”

Caulk also said “if the litmus test for serving on a board is advocacy for all children, Board Member Vendil not only meets, but exceeds this threshold.”

City Hall spokeswoman Jessica Grondin said Mayor Michael Brennan was not aware of the incident before Monday.

Vendil is not the first School Board member to be arrested while serving.

Former board member Jason Toothaker was arrested in 2006 on a charge of theft of services after he fled a taxi without paying the $4.65 fare. Portland police found Toothaker hiding under a building deck and said he was very intoxicated.

Toothaker eventually resigned from the board in 2007.

Also in 2007, former board member Ben Meikelejohn was charged with driving without a license, although that charge was later dropped because he was never notified of his suspension.