Why This Superintendent Decision Matters for Our Schools and Community

As many of you know, Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) is in the process of hiring a new Superintendent—an individual who will shape the future of our schools, students, and community for years to come. This decision should be made with transparency, accountability, and the trust of parents, teachers, and community members.

Understanding the Superintendent’s Role

The Superintendent is the highest authority in our school district, responsible for leading AUSD and overseeing key administrative departments. They are appointed by the AUSD School Board, a publicly elected body. The Superintendent supervises various Assistant Superintendents, each managing critical areas such as:

  • Human Resources (Renee Argain)
  • Business Services (Kendyl Darnell)
  • Educational Services (EJ Rossi)

Currently, EJ Rossi serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, a position that influences nearly every aspect of students' daily school experiences, including:

  • Curriculum adoption
  • Professional development for teachers
  • English Language Learner support
  • Oversight of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), which manages funding for high-need student populations
  • Departments including Library Services, Nursing Services, Technology Services, and Student Intervention Services (SIS), which supports students with special education needs

Simply put, EJ Rossi already has a major say in what our students learn, how teachers are trained, and how crucial student services operate. The question before us now: Should he be the next Superintendent of AUSD?

EJ Rossi’s Troubling History

Before joining AUSD, EJ Rossi served as both Superintendent and Principal of San Ardo Union School District (2003-2007). Shortly after his resignation in 2007, a financial audit revealed $6,000 in missing funds, leading to a deeper investigation. The findings?

🔴 Nearly $56,000 was misappropriated from the district during Rossi’s tenure

🔴 Rossi personally agreed to pay back $32,000

🔴 A Grand Jury report (2009-2010) documented improper financial actions, including:

  • Overriding financial controls, leading to duplicate and undocumented payments
  • Approving his own payroll and unauthorized stipends, resulting in an overpayment of more than $16,000
  • Raising his own district credit card limits from $5,000 to $75,000 and $45,000—without authorization—and using them for personal purchases

🔴 The Monterey County District Attorney declined to pursue criminal charges—but only because of "lack of oversight and accountability" and "careless or nonexistent record-keeping."

Despite this serious history, in 2009, while the investigation was ongoing, AUSD promoted Rossi from Assistant Principal to Principal of Atascadero High School—without properly vetting his past. The Grand Jury later found that AUSD had failed to follow proper hiring procedures and that the information about Rossi’s financial misconduct had not been shared with the hiring committee.

History Repeating Itself?

Now, AUSD is considering Rossi for Superintendent, despite a history of financial mismanagement and a hiring process that has lacked transparency. The same concerns raised by the Grand Jury in 2010 are resurfacing today:

🔴 Lack of proper vetting: Has AUSD conducted a thorough, independent background check this time? There’s no public evidence they have.

🔴 Lack of stakeholder input: Concerns from teachers, staff, and parents have been dismissed or ignored.

🔴 Lack of due diligence: The same hiring process that failed in 2009 appears to be failing again.

What You Can Do

This decision will impact our students, teachers, and community for years to come. If you believe we deserve a Superintendent who is fully vetted, trustworthy, and chosen with transparency, then now is the time to act.

📢 Join us at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, March 18, outside the AUSD Office (5601 W Mall).

✉️ Send emails to: 

  • The AUSD School Board 
  • Superintendent Tom Butler
  • San Luis Obispo County Superintendent James J. Brescia
  • Assemblymember Dawn Addis
  • Senator John Laird

If you're unsure what to write, reach out. Your voice matters. 

This is our district, our schools, and our students’ future.

Let’s make sure we get this decision right.

I have fought—and will continue to fight—for our students, our schools, and our community. Please stand with me.

Alex Willcox

willcoxalex@gmail.com 

(951)-514-5029




List of contacts for School Board and administrators:

Mrs. Tracy Ellis-Weit 

P.O. Box 218

Atascadero, CA 93423

tracyellisweit@atasusd.org

805-538-1946

Mr. Joey Arnold

85 East Pozo Road

Santa Margarita, CA 93453

joeyarnold@atasusd.org

805-610-0036

Mrs. Denise McGrew-Kane 8950 Balboa Road

Atascadero, CA 93422

denisemcgrewkane@atasusd.org 805-391-4633

Mrs. Rebekah Koznek

3205 Chico Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

rebekahkoznek@atasusd.org

805-464-7204

Mrs. Jodi Taylor

P.O. Box 913

Santa Margarita, CA 93453

joditaylor@atasusd.org

805-459-6484

Mrs. Corinne Kuhnle

10540 Bitterwater Road

Santa Margarita, CA 93453

corinnekuhnle@atasusd.org

805-610-7847

Mrs. Vy Pierce

P.O. Box 793

Atascadero, CA 93423

vypierce@atasusd.org

805-464-3410

Tom Butler

AUSD Superintendent

tombutler@atasusd.org

805-462-4200



James J. Brescia, Ed.D.

County Superintendent

jbrescia@slocoe.org

805-543-7732

Dawn Addis

Assemblymember

Assemblymember.Addis@assembly.ca.gov 

857 Santa Rosa Street

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Tel: (805) 549-3001

Fax: (805) 549-3056