Auburn Union has new acting supe while PCOE sends another letter of concern

This story was updated at 1:38 p.m. Tuesday, March 7. Amid a year of big decisions and financial difficulties, the Auburn Union School District has a new acting superintendent. Michelle Lucci Garcia is currently serving as the Superintendent Designee while Superintendent Amber Lee-Alva is out. Garcia has worked for the district for four years as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. "I am thrilled to provide you with all the information you need regarding our district and extend my support to you," Garcia said in a message on the AUSD website. Garcia's message did not say why Lee-Alva was away. Garcia did not respond to the Auburn Journal by press deadline Tuesday. In the middle of planning to consolidate its educational program from five schools to three next year, AUSD continues to face financial woes. The district has a packed agenda for its meeting Wednesday. The board will address potential layoffs and pink slips, revising the Alta Vista Community Charter to either move or close the program, potential sale of surplus property, a lease agreement with Bluedoor Community for the former Alta Vista site, a second interim budget update and a new letter of concern from the Placer County Office of Education. In early February, Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica sent a Lack of Growing Concern letter to the school district, highlighting inaccuracies in its financial reporting. The letter states AUSD "shows a lack of function, commitment or attention" to budget development and adoption, budget monitoring and updates, cash management, collective bargaining agreements, contributions and transfers, deficit spending, enrollment and attendance, and leadership and stability. The eight-page letter details areas in which the district struggled to report accurate or acceptable numbers required for financial reporting. As a result of the letter, the Placer County Office of Education will assign a fiscal expert to "advise the district on its financial difficulties, business practices and financial reporting." The county will fund the fiscal expert. According to a staff report by AUSD Chief Business Officer Heather Leslie, the county's fiscal expert will be identified at the meeting Wednesday. The letter also triggers a fiscal health analysis by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, a state agency aimed to protect school districts from financial crisis. "Our office acknowledges the difficult financial decisions the district is facing and understands the additional time involved in compiling reliable projections under multiple scenarios to stabilize the budget and streamline operations," Garbolino-Mojica said in the letter. "PCOE needs to ensure that financial data and assumptions used for budgets, interims or other fiscal plans are as up-to-date and accurate as possible as you work through challenging decisions alongside the students, staff and families of the district." The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at EV Cain Middle School in Dragila Gym.