KHTS News learned Friday that within a couple days of meeting with parents and Hart district officials, the Valencia High softball team is adjusting operations.

William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board President Joe Messina said he couldn’t release any details regarding the status of the investigation.

However, he said the district was in the process of evaluating the situation.  

Previous story: Valencia High Softball Program Under Audit By Hart District After Parents’ Complaint

“We’re actively looking into these things and we’re looking into the processes and the procedures for thow the ASB operates,” Messina said, “to make sure that A) we are operating within the law, and B) we go beyond the requirements of the law to make sure there is accountability and transparency for the funding of all programs.”

A flier circulated to parents requested donations for an upcoming banquet to be made to “Valencia ASB”; past records and posts found online indicate previous donations were sent to “Valencia Softball.”

Hart district officials would not verify any aspects of the investigation or any response to the complaint that was obtained by KHTS AM-1220.

KHTS has obtained a copy of the complaint forwarded to William S. Hart Union High School District officials on April 21, 2017.

The document begins: “This serves as a formal complaint against Donna Lee, Greg Lee & Mike Yuddin (sic),” and goes on to lay out a series of allegations against the program’s operations.

Donna Lee is the head coach of Valencia High’s varsity softball program. Her husband, Greg Lee, is the Hart District’s Director of Human Resources and Equity Services, Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator. Yudin is the owner and head strength coach of local gym Team Yudin.

The allegations, according to the documents obtained by KHTS, surround two main issues: the structure of the Valencia softball booster club, and a pay-to-play allegation regarding organized team strength and conditioning workouts on campus through Yudin.

“Softball students are made to pay $55 a month and if they did not pay, they did not participate,” the complaint reads. We request that Mike Yuddin (sic) be audited as well, since he is paid by the district and by the softball program. This is pure exploitation of parents.”

California law prohibits public schools for assessing pupil fees in exchange for educational opportunities under Education Code Section 49011.

The code reads in part: “(b) All of the following apply to the prohibition on pupil fees identified in subdivision (a):

(3) School districts and schools shall not establish a two-tier educational system by requiring a minimal educational standard and also offering a second, higher educational standard that pupils may only obtain through payment of a fee or purchase of additional supplies that the school district or school does not provide.

(4) A school district or school shall not offer course credit or privileges related to educational activities in exchange for money or donations of goods or services from a pupil or a pupil’s parents or guardians, and a school district or school shall not remove course credit or privileges related to educational activities, or otherwise discriminate against a pupil, because the pupil’s parents or guardians did not or will not provide money or donations of goods or services to the school district or school.”

According to the Hart district policy manual, all district employees are made aware of the prohibitions under EC Section 49011.

“The Superintendent or designee shall include information in the annual notification required by 5 CCR 4622 to be provided to all District students, parents/guardians, employees, and other interested parties about the requirements relating to the prohibition against districts requiring students to pay fees, deposits or other charges in order to participate in an educational activity, unless authorized by law, and the filing of complaints for alleged violations using the uniform complaint procedures. (Education Code 49013)”

The complainants also requested an audit of the Valencia softball program, which district officials confirmed Tuesday is underway.

“We are not accountants,” it reads, “and therefore, request that a professional auditing service look through the accounts for the past 7 years, since the last 3 we believe are falsified. Without full bank statements, it is undetermined if any cash withdrawals were made made (sic) by Donna Lee.”

The complaint questions a lack of oversight and transparency regarding how the program’s money is spent.

“There has been an off campus account for an unknown amount of time in which Donna Lee and an Unknown person with the first name Karen and Last initial M as a co-signer on all checks. The parents are responsible for raising all funds that go into the program, yet no one knows how these funds are being allocated. These items need to be discussed within the meeting and voted on as to where the funds go,” the complaint reads. “Since Karen (the 2nd signer) is not part of the program, the question is why is she approving expenditures out of the account.”

District spokesman Dave Caldwell informed KHTS on Wednesday that there are “two acceptable systems of handling team/club finances — through ASB (Associated Student Body) or through a booster club that has formed a 501(c)3.”