CHARTER SCHOOL PARTNER DISPUTES REMOVAL CLAIMS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The attorney for a charter school official who was ousted by his two partners refuted assertions made by the two partners and their attorney that his client was paid more money than they were.

The attorney for retired high school teacher Edward Kennepohl also said that his client was granted a preliminary injunction by a judge to restrict expenditures by former partners Jeff Brown and Dante Simi.

``The judge issued an injunction barring any payments to any of the shareholders. Only funds for regular operating expenses could be paid,'' said Gregory Bordo, Kennepohl's attorney.

Court documents submitted in connection with a lawsuit filed Feb. 28 by Kennepohl after his ouster by Brown and Simi show he accused his former partners of ``profiteering,'' alleging that they misappropriated $45,000 by writing checks to themselves and spouses and even made a spouse's car payment.

Brown, a Santa Clarita pool contractor, and Simi, a former Antelope Valley Hospital board member, denied misappropriating funds and counter-sued Kennepohl.

The payments to Brown and Simi were advances on their salaries, the two men said in court papers. Both sides have agreed to dismiss all claims in a settlement agreement, the terms of which are confidential.

Desert Sands attorney Byron Finley said Monday that the car payment actually was for Brown's standard car allowance.

Bordo disputed that, saying there was no resolution of the board to allow such payments and that there were no car allowances that were approved.

Bordo stressed that another charter school being proposed by Kennepohl, Valley View Charter School, was started after Kennepohl left Desert Sands and the court settlement was reached.

``Valley View has nothing to do with this. Valley View was initiated after the agreement,'' Bordo said.

The petition for Valley View is scheduled to be discussed by the high school board at today's meeting.

Brown and Simi also said several of Kennepohl's relatives were hired to work for Desert Sands. A Kennepohl son-in-law, previously misreported as a daughter-in-law, said he went to work in March after Kennepohl left.

Bordo said a large number of Kennepohl family members are career educators. ``It's not unusual to have multiple family members working in the school,'' Bordo said.

Antelope Valley Union High School District officials said they hired an investigator to look at the charter school after Brown and Simi ousted Kennepohl.

The district last July approved the charter of the school, which has more than 500 students, many of them adults seeking diplomas.

Superintendent Robert Girolamo said the district has not yet received the results of the investigation.

Girolamo said Monday that district officials have made no decision on whether to renew Desert Sands' charter, which will expire June 30. A March 26 letter warned that the superintendent was expected to recommend that the high school board not renew the charter.