Suspended Longview superintendent pleads not guilty

Suspended Longview School District Superintendent Karen Cloninger pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Cowlitz County Superior Court.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help

Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News.

Jon McMullen, of Vancouver-based Jon J. McMullen Law Office, told presiding Judge Michael Evans that his client pleaded not guilty to all counts: tampering with a witness, failure to report child abuse or neglect, and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

McMullen also filed a motion to waive a speedy trial.

Cloninger, 58, of Longview, is scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 19. A July 29 pre-trial hearing is also scheduled.

The Longview School Board voted unanimously on Monday to move Cloninger from paid to unpaid administrative leave because she cannot legally do her job following her arrest and charges.

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Toby Krauel requested that Cloninger have no contact with the state's 50 witnesses, which include Longview Police Chief Robert Huhta, Longview Student Resource Officer Hieu Ngo, Mark Morris Assistant Principal Charles Paul Beckel, the victims of suspected sexual assault by Mark Morris students, and the victims' relatives.

Before the hearing, Cloninger sat in the back of the Cowlitz County Jail courtroom. After the hearing, she left in a black SUV and didn't speak to the media.

However, McMullen told reporters his client is ready to fight the case, though it may take time to collect evidence.

"The discovery process will be lengthy and ongoing," he said.

The accusations

Mark Morris High School staff and district officials learned of possible sexual misconduct involving students as early as Jan. 29; Cloninger specifically learned of the details involving two students the following day, according to the police report that led to her arrest.

School employees are mandatory reporters, meaning state law requires them to report such suspicions.

Employees raised concerns about the district's responsibility to report the allegations, but Cloninger directed them to handle the matter internally and discourage discussion, court records show.

Cloninger received documents on Jan. 29 and on Feb. 2, associated with the suspension of students, which included information about one of the victims being forcibly dragged into the Mark Morris High School varsity team room, the police report states.

She allegedly withheld that information from law enforcement officers for over a month, despite being served with a search warrant, according to the document.

The trials for the two Mark Morris High School students charged with second-degree rape involving other students are scheduled for January.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.