The Joint Legislative Audit Committee has approved Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez's request to consider a "full-scale audit" of Coachella Valley Unified School District, following a projected $60 million budget deficit that has had led to layoffs and reduced employee hours.

Gonzalez, a Republican representing the 36th Assembly District — which includes Coachella, Indio, Thermal, Mecca and Salton City — announced the committee’s decision on Wednesday, adding that the move is a response to growing frustration from parents, educators and taxpayers over what is viewed as years of "long-term mismanagement at the highest levels of district leadership."

"This crisis didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen by accident,” Gonzalez in a press release. "The community deserves answers. They des

See Full Page