Roseville School District Confirms It's Investigating Varsity Boys' Hockey Coaches

Roseville School District  authorities said Thursday they are investigating parental complaints about two boys varsity hockey coaches at Roseville High School.

"Complaints have been made regarding employees Jeff Pauletti and Carl Hamre,"  Karen Schaub, school district spokeswoman, told Roseville Patch. "The status of the complaints is that the School District is conducting an investigation."

Schaub declined further comment and did not disclose the subject of the investigation. She explained that specifics of the case, at least for the time being, are confidential under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.  

However, one source said the district is looking into allegations that the two coaches have verbally abused some of their team's hockey players. "

"Individuals are publically humiliated, degraded and taunted in front of their teammates by the coaches,'' said a parent who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for the child's welfare.

The parent said that alleged incidents have included throwing garbage cans in the locker room, breaking clipboards and throwing a helmet belonging to a student on the team.  

Contacted by Roseville Patch Thursday afternoon, Pauletti said the district has advised him not comment on the investigation. "I wish I could, but I can't," he said. 

But Pauletti added, "We are still coaching," with the team preparing for playoffs next week.  

The school district began its investigation in December and authorized the district's law firrm, Kennedy & Graven of Minneapolis, to conduct the inquiry. 

Maggie Wallner, an attorney at Kennedy & Graven, said her law firm provides legal services to the School District. But she added, "The identity of the individual(s) conducting or participating in the investigation is not classified as public data."

Fox 9 News also reported that the School District wouldn't disclose "what kind of complaints have been made against the coaches, and Roseville police say they have not been a part of the investigation. However, FOX 9 News learned the allegations don’t involve any type of physical abuse."