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The following letter to the editor was submitted by Kristy Trenary, who assisted with San Clemente High's football program and is a mother of two girls who attend CUSD schools.
I am writing to express my objection to Superintendent Joseph Farley and CUSD’s abhorrent treatment of San Clemente High football coach Eric Patton. This is a man who should have been praised by them for his commitment to our students, our revered high school football players and our district.
Related story: CUSD Tries to Reassure Parents in Wake of Football Scandal
Instead, they chose a path to destroy his flawless reputation as coach, mentor and teacher. I have been appalled by their behavior and lack of respect toward this hardworking, dedicated man.
I am shocked that they would not have had all the facts before making a judgment that would completely alter the life of another person. I believe they listened to what the Sandos offered as “evidence” and ran with it. This then put them in a position to have to defend the superintendent’s irresponsible statements to the press and do everything in their power to make biased, skewed, shoddy information work for them so that they didn’t look the fool.
Let me give you some facts about Patton. He has been a loyal employee of CUSD. He has given 100 percent to his students and players. He arrived at school every morning before 6 a.m. and very often was there until after 7 p.m. There are very few teachers who gladly put in 13-hour days to make sure their students are getting the best the teacher has to offer.
He taught four periods of Advanced English or Bible Literature a day and then headed out to the field to work with a football team of outstanding boys. (Boys he coached so well that they made it to the championship this year. Make no mistake: That was his team on that field that night.)
On the field, he taught them respect and dignity. He took his lunch hours to meet individually with students (to discuss classwork or study suggestions) and players (to discuss how to interview with recruiters or how to get the most out of their team or positions). Patton made a commitment to teach and coach, and did it proudly every day.
Prior to soaking up all of the erroneous information the Sandoses gave to the district, had they taken the time to fully look into everything that Patton had to offer in his defense, and listen to what the sons of the former owner of Lapes had to say, I believe there would have been a very different view of this travesty. Not only is Patton not guilty of taking anything from the district, he actually has donated his time and a significant amount of his own money toward the football program.
The district has very little financial investment in the SCHS football program. Many of the items the team needed would be purchased from monies donated to the Booster Club or out of the Summer Camp funds. If there was not enough money for a specific need, Coach Patton would pay for it personally. He always paid himself last, making sure the team or additional coaches did not go without. Many times this meant he did not get paid or reimbursed. He provided items the team continues to use every day, including equipment and anything he could get to make the football office comfortable for players and visitors.
I am in disbelief that a man that has given so much of himself to his community has been removed from our small pool of quality teachers due to “change orders” and improper paper pushing. Given the amount of time Patton spent with students and players, this seems like such a petty excuse by the district. The district did not lose any money by Coach Patton having to exchange items through Lapes directly. If a correct protocol was not followed, whose responsibility should it have been to explain how the system worked? Why was the coach held solely responsible for not following procedures that were not being practiced when he took the position? Why wasn’t an administrator assigned to handle these things if it was such an important policy, rather than a man who already was working 10-13 hour days?
It is as simple as this example: If there were not enough large helmets and a medium one could be quickly exchanged, isn’t it more important to worry about the safety of a player than whether or not the correct form was filled out? I think the priorities are backwards here. If CUSD had done its due diligence, this all would have been avoided. Instead they chose to waste an unfathomable amount of money chasing a nonissue to prove a point and make sure enough commotion was made to hide a horrible mistake.
We live in a society where one should be innocent until proven guilty. Farley and the CUSD school board convicted Patton without having all of the facts. Their stance was based on ideas from angry people with an ax to grind. This poor man has been dragged through the mud for months and months. By not looking into this quietly and first gathering every fact to make an educated evaluation of the situation, Farley allowed Patton and other coaches to be persecuted by journalists who published the same skewed information over and over again. All the while, Patton acted with dignity and grace (this alone should give you insight to his character). Not only did these actions, decisions and statements by Farley harm Patton, they affected players, students, his family and an entire community. To what end?
Farley was hired to help CUSD overcome horrible financial circumstances, bad press and a declining educational system - not to mention the increasing drug problem at our middle and high schools. Over the last year, these are the items they should have been focusing on. It sickens me that my children are sitting in classrooms with 35-40 students at the high school. This is where the district’s money and time should be spent.
Kristy Trenary
San Clemente
Dan
6:53 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
But weren't prices being over inflated by Lapes and then checks cut for the difference back to the coaches?
peoplewatcher
8:24 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I know it seemed that way from the news reports, but as a parent who had a son in three different sports all thru high school I can tell you that the prices that parents were charged for "spirit pack" supplies were just below retail level. The school district had no involvement in these transactions at all. They were between parents and the coaches, I for one always knew that the teams were being outfitted for less than retail costs and assumed that the surplus went towards allowing student athletes that couldn't afford the spirit packs to get them for free. Where would one assume this money came from if not from the unfortunately termed "slush fund account". This whole smearing of Coach Patton who is great individual and other Orange County coaches caught up in this mess was such grandstanding by the news media and sadly the CUSD choose to cut and run instead of looking into the validity of the charges. This coach has given so much to our community I am surprised that there aren't more letters like Kristy's
Dan
7:21 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Thanks for the explanation. You would think that if there was illegal use of funds occurring the OC District Attorney would have filed charges by this point. This has been going on for almost a year, hasn't it?
At the same time, because someone dedicates endless hours to kids, is a great teacher, and a championship coach does not mean that they haven't broken the law and that is the argument that most supporters are putting forward. Robin Hood, albeit a fictional character, stole from the rich and gave to the poor in the name of higher values. Robin Hood was still a thief.
I hope this issue is put to rest soon so that all can move forward.
Willimena
7:50 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
The hard evidence clearly shows that Patton, his family members and other coaches on his staff and through out CUSD have indeed recieved numerous slush fund payments over the past years. His employment in any capacity with the district pretty much should have been terminated on the spot. If he isn't fired after all of this has been made public, seriously just what type of message does that send?
Matt Gaffney
10:03 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Willimena, The only facts put out have come from the flawed investigation conducted by Farley & CUSD. There has been no action by the OC Sheriff or the DA. That fact alone speaks volumes about this matter. You can't hang the man until all the facts are known. There's only been Farley's side of this issue published. Until the entire matter is vetted publicly there can't be a true assessment of anything that was done.
Tritor Supporter
2:27 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Dr. Patton has never received any illegal money or profit from the school district or the football program.He and other coaches have been victimized by the press and the CUSD board based on false and misleading assumptions. These 'assumptions', with no validation, were perpetrated by the angry new owners of the now defunct LAPES Athletic Teams Sales. After fighting a protracted bitter lawsuit with former owner Bill Lapes,they went to the press and over 60 various California schools with extrordinary, unfounded allegations based their view of Bill Lapes' personal book keeping records and practices. How he labled and filed his documents, taxes and co-mingled funds was known only to him and his buisness, not to the coaches. What is a KNOWN fact is that the Football Program received equipment for every dollar spent by the district, and that Patton received no unwarranted or illegal gain from the district or it's fundraising endeavors. Despite the relentless screams and hounding of the angry owners, every other school district in the state has found no conspiracy, no embezlement, no theft, by it's coaches. Like head coaches at other schools, Patton interfaced with Lapes as a Vendor, not a co-conspirator. When Patton is able to speak freely without legal restraints he will be able to defend himself. Until then, he should be afforded the American right of Innocent until PROVEN guilty. Unfortunately the press, the public and CUSD don't seem to believe in this right.
OC SPORTS MOM
7:17 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
http://video.pbssocal.org/video/1909678048 here is the link to the original PBS story...about the 4 min. timer is where you will be able to pause and view the names of Patton Family members and the amounts they received, keep watching though, and you will be able to see the transcript of Coach Patton's testimony in the civil case the new owners filed against the previous owner of Lapes. All in all the entire 11 min. are very telling about the kickbacks numerous coaches around the state received. I'm very interested if you'll still feel the same way about the vindication of Coach Patton after the "facts" are viewed by you or anyone else interested in this case.
I would have also enjoyed the fishing trip Capo Valley coaches received from Lapes in addition to the many, many $$$$...unfortunately business is / was conducted in this manner and now it's caught up to them.
Capo mom
10:03 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
"He always paid himself last," ....
What does that mean?
How does football coach get into a position where he is paying himself for a job he performs for CUSD?
Here is an article about the LAPES issue generally.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/district-341000-patton-capistrano.html
peoplewatcher
10:34 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
It means that in the course of running summer camps and other programs not run through the district he had to run a small business, pay for refs for passing league games coaches to help with summer camps and many other costs not funded by the district. It means he paid all costs and allowed scholarships to kids unable to pay their own way and if any money was left over he would pay himself a portion of what he deserved as the jobs he performs for the CUSD is very limited any running a successful program that allows you players to go out and compete fairly on Friday nights takes more effort, money, and commitment than the district is willing to commit to. Rightfully so as they are trying to stretch every dollar as it is. Coach Patton deserves much better than this.
Capo mom
6:17 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
So as a high school football coach, Patton has access to athletes and CUSD facilities, as well as vendor connections like LAPES and others. He uses all of these assets to develop a private business that includes "summer camps and other programs not run through the district".
I am sure this sort of thing happens frequently, but it doesn't sound very ethical.
John Schafer
9:02 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Capo Mom, you clearly have no clue (just like Superintendent Farley). I can tell you it is NOT profitable and done with every effort to make the football program in this district successful. Coach Patton has put thousands upon thousands of FREE hours and thousands upon thousands of his own money into the football program at San Clemente High School. The fact that they went so far in the CIF playoffs is a testament to him and the years leading up to this packed team. If you look at Mission's summer program those kids pay over $1000 to play the summer program plus equipment. San Clemente kids pay less than $300 to play during the summer plus spirit packs. There are team meals paid for by this coach, advances on fees he pays to the district to use the facilities during the summer, insurance he had to buy before anyone puts a dime in to the summer program and he is only REPAID if there is money left over and he has never taken a salary which he would be justified to take for summer program. Many of the coaches are out there during the summer because they care about the program and its players. It is half baked comments like your comments that are just hurtful. You should really check your ethics before making such comments about other people's ethics. I have received hundreds of letters in support of Eric Patton by people that are in a much better position than you and Willamena above to talk about a coach that is more respected than most people in general.
Capo mom
11:37 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Yes John, I believe those expenses are all involved in running a business, lol. And my problem is exactly that. It appears that Patton was running a business here.
You say he has never taken a salary. How do you know this? Does he have a non-profit corporation (separate from the booster club) for these activities? Have you seen the books? Patton and his family clearly received compensation from LAPES and who knows who else.
Consider if your child's math teacher ran a private for profit summer school math program at a CUSD school, you be fine with that? Not me, the conflict of interest there is pretty clear. This is no different just because you like Patton.
And I am sure all the kids who are starters at SCHS have participated in these "summer camps and other programs not run through the district". Sounds like a great pay to play opportunity.
This either stinks to high heaven or Patton is an idiot.
OC SPORTS MOM
7:25 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
http://video.pbssocal.org/video/1909678048 here is the link to the original PBS story...about the 4 min. timer is where you will be able to pause and view the names of Patton Family members and the amounts they received, Some checks were even cut on Dec. 24th of the year in question, and all under the IRS reporting limit, what a nice Christmas bonus for the family!!! Keep watching though, and you will be able to see the transcript of Coach Patton's testimony in the civil case the new owners filed against the previous owner of Lapes where he ADMITS to NOT Reporting the Monies. All in all the entire 11 min. are very telling about the kickbacks numerous coaches around the state received. I'm very interested if you'll still feel the same way about the vindication of Coach Patton after the "facts" are viewed by you or anyone else interested in this case.
PS: The "fishing trip " the Capo Valley coaches went on sounds kinda fun, too.
Penny Arévalo
12:09 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Read a new letter to the editor re: Coach Patton here, http://patch.com/A-qZSj
peoplewatcher
12:18 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Capo Mom, your last statement really shows your predisposition on this matter. I would bet a month's salary that you do not have any children that have played in a high school sports program either public school or private school. Your ignorance of the whole concept makes that a pretty safe bet. I don't mean that you are a ignorant person by any means, I am just stating that you leave only two choices that are both ridiculous to anyone who has had kids play HS athletics or who know Coach Patton. I would hope that you might step back and realize that on this matter you are ignorant of a meaningful perspective and therefore without educating yourself further(ask your friends or family that have had kids in HS athletics about this) you can't help but make further ridiculous comments. I apologize in advance for the tone, I truly mean no disrespect.
Capo mom
2:53 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Save your money peoplewatcher, I freely admit that I don't have kids in any high school sports programs. My kids aren't that age yet. And I don't know Patton except for what has been presented with regards to this story. You say that makes me ignorant. I say it makes me unbiased.
A high school teacher and coach operated a private business in tandem with his responsibilities at SCHS. He and his family received compensation for it. That is a bad idea - however you want to look at it. I said originally I am sure this sort of thing happens frequently, but that doesn't make it ethical.
If Patton did this for personal enrichment, it stinks. If he did it without the proper structure and record keeping and without regard for the consequences, he is an idiot.
OC SPORTS MOM
7:32 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
Peoplewatcher: Watch the PBS story, (the link is posted above), and see the evidence for yourself...my children played HS football here in south county at one of the schools mentioned in the report, and I would have loved the expense to have been fair and not inflated by these coaches who received kickbacks. However, ask yourself this: If the Dec. 24th checks the Patton Family Members received were to " go back to the program" why weren't they just cut directly to the SCHS Football programs' Booster club?
peoplewatcher
4:47 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Capo mom, the "if's" in your last post make a world of difference. That shows respect for the unbiased/ignorance perspective that you hold, with from what I can make of you is a good heart. If your ifs were true I would have no use for Coach Patton either. By the way I am several years removed from the HS scene as my youngest is a senior in college, I don't have a dog in this fight, but I can tell you everything they are talking about here happens at the junior college and college level as well. It is a necessity born out of having enough money left over to pay for those who can't afford it and the general business of running a athletic program. Unfortunate term slush fund and so misleading that I wander if it was inserted after the fact by the media or the Lapes creditor because it is such a large bell and hard to unring
The Lone Wolf
5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
My son attended a science camp in the Saddleback District at a local elementary school for a week one summer. We paid a non-district camp fee for the camp and the owner of the camp was a teacher off for the summer. How does this fit into your idea of not running a separate summer program. Was that teacher suppose to administer to the program for free (meaning take the application and fees, set up the classrooms for the camp, hire the teachers, and set up a program) and pay for the anticipated program costs including the site fee to the district out of their own pocket as well as teach the program for free? Would you not think that that summer program should pay for it's own supplies and pay for the use of the facilities and pay its teachers? But you probably think that because they are paid for their role as a teacher through the year they should give their time to everyone's kids for free during the summer and also pay for the supplies and site fees out of their own pocket. Why is that any different than Coach Patton?
OC SPORTS MOM
7:35 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
The Lone Wolf...this scenario is different watch the following: http://video.pbssocal.org/video/1909678048 here is the link to the original PBS story...about the 4 min. timer is where you will be able to pause and view the names of Patton Family members and the amounts they received, keep watching though, and you will be able to see the transcript of Coach Patton's testimony in the civil case the new owners filed against the previous owner of Lapes. All in all the entire 11 min. are very telling about the kickbacks numerous coaches around the state received. I'm very interested if you'll still feel the same way about the vindication of Coach Patton after the "facts" are viewed by you or anyone else interested in this case.
Also see the above comment where I stated I am upset about Dec. 24th Christmas checks for the members of the Patton family...