Placer Union High School District officials said Friday they have launched an independent third-party review into complaints that trustee Tom Duncan overstepped his role by intervening in Del Oro High School girls basketball and in a related youth club. Parents and several coaches raised concerns at a Jan. 20 board meeting and in earlier local reporting that Duncan, who has a daughter on Del Oro’s varsity team and is listed as president of the Junior Lady Eagles club, inserted himself into coaching and personnel decisions. The district says legal counsel is overseeing the review and that the identity of the outside investigator is being withheld while the inquiry proceeds.
District Brings In Outside Reviewer
The district confirmed it had retained an independent reviewer and said complaints are being handled through district legal counsel, according to The Sacramento Bee. Board President Jessica Spaid told the paper the district's legal team is managing the inquiry while the review proceeds. District officials did not provide a timeline for when the investigation will conclude.
Former Coach Describes Alleged Pressure
In December a former Del Oro assistant coach told the Auburn Journal that members of the coaching staff were forced out and, on at least one occasion, were presented with a decision to add a parent to the sideline coaching team. That account added early momentum to parents' calls for an external review and was raised again during public comment at district meetings. The former assistant's recollection has not been independently verified by the district, but it remains part of the record prompting the current probe.
Parents Pressed The Board In Public
At a Jan. 20 board meeting parents urged trustees to order an independent probe, saying multiple coaches had been pressured to leave and that decisions meant to benefit trustee family members and associates had been made without proper oversight, parents told The Sacramento Bee. Parent Jennifer Poe said several coaches felt pushed out, and Barbara Smith told the paper the investigation was needed because of an alleged abuse of power. Another community member, Wendy Biel, said the review should include administrative leadership and not only trustees involved in day-to-day athletic operations.
Board Role And Governance Questions
The district's own materials draw a line between policy and operations: the board sets policy while the superintendent and staff manage day-to-day programs, a distinction critics say may have been blurred in this case, per the Placer Union High School District's website. PUHSD notes that the superintendent serves as chief executive officer and ensures board policies are carried out. That governance framework has been central to parents' calls for an outside review rather than an internal correction.
Club Ties Draw Extra Scrutiny
Tom Duncan is listed publicly as president of the Junior Lady Eagles, a non-profit feeder club for Del Oro athletics, which parents say deepened concerns about conflicts between volunteer club activity and school decisions. Junior Lady Eagles describes its mission as developing players who will attend Del Oro and compete for the school. Those local ties, parents and observers say, make an independent review important to restoring trust in the program.
What Happens Next
The review will remain confidential while handled through counsel, and district officials have not outlined a public timetable for findings. Depending on what the independent reviewer uncovers, the board could pursue policy changes, staffing adjustments, or other remedies. For now, the district's statement and earlier local reporting are the main public records as the investigation moves forward.
