AUBURN – An Edward Little High School teacher accused of providing alcohol to students is being allowed to return to the classroom in September.

Joyce D’Augustine was suspended from teaching after a parent told police about a party the teacher hosted at her home March 9.

According to police, D’Augustine held a cast party for about 15 students who had competed in the Maine Drama Festival and allowed students who handed over their car keys to drink.

The Auburn school committee voted 7-1 on Wednesday to cancel an earlier plan to hold a termination hearing for her.

The committee instead asked Superintendent Barbara Eretzian to impose sanctions on D’Augustine that would “send a clear message about the committee’s concerns of substance abuse and alcohol awareness in the community,” said Kathy Constantine, school committee chairwoman.

“We’re confident that Joyce is committed to helping us meet our goal,” Eretzian said. “We want to turn a serious mistake into an instructional, teachable moment,” Eretzian said.

Neither Constantine nor Eretzian would give further details about the sanctions.

“I’ve made a mistake and I’ve brought a lot of grief to many people,” D’Augustine said.

“I’m anxious to get back into the classroom. I don’t know if I appreciated, before now, how much I cared about teaching.”

D’Augustine was charged with four counts of furnishing a place for minors to drink alcohol.

D’Augustine pleaded innocent to the charges earlier this month.

She declined to say Thursday whether she plans to change her plea.

If convicted, she faces a fine of about $100 for each count.