LEBANON - Bo Yates, assistant principal at Seven Oak Middle School, has notified the Lebanon Community School District he may sue the district for ending his contract as high school athletic director, among other issues.

Yates filed a tort claim on Jan. 18 and hired a Salem attorney, Kefin Lafky. Yates said this morning he is waiting to see what the district does before deciding whether to file suit, but had no comment on what he'd like to see happen.

Robinson discussed the claim in closed session Monday with the Lebanon School Board but would say publicly only that it has been sent to the school district's attorney, Paul Dakopolos.

The four-page claim states that Yates intends to file a civil action for monetary damages against the district, employees and staff. It alleges, among other things, breach of contract, interference with an economic relationship, defamation and infliction of emotional distress.

Actions taken against Yates, according to the claim, include a district investigation for "gross neglect of duty," a report to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), and a decision last summer not to renew his contract as high school athletic director.

TSPC, which licenses Oregon educators and disciplines them, received the complaint about Yates from Robinson last March 2. Complaints are confidential until the investigation ends, and details are released only if TSPC decides to take action.

According to both the tort claim and to earlier interviews with Jason Yutzie, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Lebanon, the complaint stemmed from monetary transfers between the club and the school district that the district said were improper.

A contract signed in October 2006 states the school district was to allocate $10,000 to the club to help cover middle school sports, which the club began handling that year.

Under Yates' direction, Yutzie said, part of the money was used to pay Lebanon High School coaches for a weightlifting program and a spring volleyball camp. Neither was sponsored by the club.

The complaint states Yates met with Robinson about the investigation more than once and that he signed a letter of apology and paid $1,650 to the Lebanon High School volleyball team.

In turn, Robinson sent a letter to TSPC stating the issue with Yates had been resolved.

Robinson has maintained the athletic director decision was not related to the TSPC complaint.