A member of the Rainier School District staff has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an ongoing DUI investigation.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) Lt. Mike Brooks said deputies responded to Rainier Middle School on Tuesday, March 5, following a report of a staff member driving while intoxicated.
According to a news tip sent to the Nisqually Valley News after the incident, the event involved a teacher who allegedly “drove recklessly through the parking lot” and “hit a curb” Tuesday morning after being “too impaired to drive.”
Neither Rainier School District nor TCSO confirmed those specific allegations, including the staff member’s position, however.
“We were out there to investigate a DUI,” Brooks confirmed, adding the school district would have to release additional information about the staff member.
Rainier School District Superintendent Bryon Bahr stated in an email that the employee is on leave until the investigation is concluded.
“However, because this is a personnel matter, we are unable to provide additional information at this time,” Bahr wrote. “We take this situation very seriously and will continue to foster a safe and inclusive campus while ensuring a stable learning environment.”
