Corrective action taken against Quincy teacher after student report
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 3 weeks AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | September 2, 2026 3:25 AM
QUINCY — Quincy School District officials have issued a statement following a complaint from the guardian of a Quincy High School student that the district mishandled an allegation against a QHS teacher.
The teacher is still employed by the school district.
The guardian said the teacher had made her sister, a QHS student, uncomfortable on multiple occasions during the 2025-26 school year. The student reported an incident to another QHS staff member, the guardian said, and the teacher was placed on administrative leave. The guardian, however, said she believed the investigation was insufficient, and that district officials had failed to keep the student’s family informed.
Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman referred the Columbia Basin Herald to the statement, which said QSD officials placed the teacher on leave, reported the allegations to law enforcement and hired an independent, third-party investigator.
Matthew Brewer, president of the Quincy Education Association, said the union did not have a statement.
“The investigator interviewed multiple students and staff members. While was agreement about the statements that were made, there were differences in the description of the context surrounding those statements,” the QSD statement said. “Because this matter involves both a student and a staff member, the school district has legal obligations to protect student privacy and the confidentiality of personnel matters. As a result, we are limited in the details we can appropriately share, but we can confirm corrective action was taken.”
The student and teacher will not share any classes, the statement said. It added that district officials could have communicated better with the family.
“We recognize that we could have met with the student and family before the start of the school year to communicate those plans more clearly and provide an opportunity for discussion and feedback,” it said. “We regret that this did not occur and are reviewing our processes to strengthen communication and support for students and families in situations like this.”
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Ephrata sees one-time revenue boost, but sales tax under budget projection
EPHRATA — Three-quarters of the way through the year, the city of Ephrata is spending slightly less than projected in its 2026 budget, but Finance Director Kristen McDonnell said that may change.
Ten injured in Mattawa-area bus collision
MATTAWA — Ten people were injured, with nine transported to local hospitals, after a bus driver allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a semi pulling two trailers east of Mattawa early Thursday morning. Rene Ortiz Baez, 55, Yakima, was driving the bus east on Road 24 Southwest at about 6:40 a.m. Thursday when he failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of SR 24, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. The bus hit a semi pulling two trailers driven by David Ramos-Leal, 28, Moses Lake. The collision occurred about 12 miles east of Mattawa.
Quincy council discusses tax income, outgo
QUINCY — A public hearing on a potential increase in Quincy's property tax assessment prompted a discussion of income and expenses at the regular Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday. All Washington cities have the option to raise property taxes on a portion of the city's total assessed valuation. Quincy Finance Director Carrie Lnenicka estimated that about $5.6 million was eligible to be taxed. The city is allowed to raise its property tax on that amount by up to 1%, which Lnenicka estimated would generate about $56,580. That's the maximum the city can collect, she said. Because of that, the actual tax levy rate will decrease if property valuations increase.