Rock Creek families retain legal representation, send letter to Auburn Union School District

Families of Rock Creek Elementary students have joined together to retain legal representation in the wake of Auburn Union School District's decision to close the school at the end of the school year. On Jan. 11, the AUSD Board of Trustees voted to close Rock Creek "despite the board not considering key factors under the law," a letter from the families and their legal representation stated. The families of the closed campus were able to register at either of the remaining elementary schools – Auburn Elementary or Skyridge. After peacefully protesting the decision in February, the group of families sent a letter, co-authored by three legal agencies, to AUSD Superintendent Designee Michelle Lucci Garcia and the AUSD Board of Trustees on March 30. Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights-SF and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation wrote on behalf of Familias de Rock Creek, and Legal Services of Northern California wrote on behalf of their individual clients, two Rock Creek families. Rock Creek student body is comprised mostly of Latinx students. In 2021-22, Latinix enrollment made up 72 percent of the student body. The school also has 140 English Learner students, more than half the student population. "The District's decision to close Rock Creek Elementary has a disproportionate impact among the mostly Latinx student body of Rock Creek," the letter states. While there was no specific threat of litigation in the letter, the message requests the district reverse its decision to close Rock Creek. It specifically states Latinx and English Learner students bore the brunt of the decision. The letter alleges the district's board of trustees erred in the following ways: ·&emsp;They did not consider the effect the closure would have on the majority Latinx population and English Learners. ·&emsp;Failed to make the closure selection process language accessible to failing to provide translations of materials and translators during public comments, along with not meeting with community groups working with English Learner programs. ·&emsp;The board did not provide a complete analysis of the need of additional classrooms on Auburn El campus, which may trigger a more in-depth CEQA analysis. "The district's failure to consider language access needs and race/ethnicity of the students at Rock Creek goes against the principles the district promotes in its mission statement 'diversity is strength,' " the letter states. As of this week, the families had not received a response from the district. Antonio Valdez, the lawyer representing the two named Rock Creek families, said his clients are "considering all legal tools available to them before making a decision, including a lawsuit." Superintendent Designee Lucci Garcia said the district is looking at how to adjust spending to consider declining enrollment and declining revenue. "We realize that consolidating campuses is emotional for our school community, so we are striving to keep people informed of our fiscal realities and the tough decisions that must be made to remain fiscally stable," she stated in an email to the Auburn Journal. She said the letter is being reviewed by the district's legal team. "I do want to assure our entire school community that we are resolved to make the necessary decisions to ensure that continuing to provide for our students remains our top priority," she said.