Placer district launches 3rd-party probe into school trustee’s athletics role
.png "Placer Union High School District board Trustee Tom Duncan, seen in an undated photo, is being investigated by a third party for alleged overreach into the Del Oro High School girls basketball team.")
A Placer Union High School District trustee is under investigation by an independent third party following allegations of overreach into the Del Oro High School girls basketball team, the district said in a statement.
District officials declined to detail the concerns raised against district Trustee Tom Duncan, saying additional background information appears in reporting by the Auburn Journal.
In December 2025, Auburn Journal journalist Jordan Georgeson reported that a former Del Oro girls basketball assistant coach said her staff was forced out of the program and alleged overreach by Duncan. The trustee has a daughter on the varsity team and serves as president of the Junior Lady Eagles Basketball Club, the school’s junior development program in Loomis.
Taylor Cirksena, a Del Oro coach and alum, told the Auburn Journal that the coaching staff’s final straw was the school principal and athletic director requiring the basketball head coach to add a parent to their coaching staff. Cirksena said the decision was required to be made that night. One Del Oro assistant coach asked whether the staff had a choice.
“They shook their head no,” Cirksena said, according to the Auburn Journal. “Signaling that it was not actually a choice but rather a directive.”
At the district’s Jan. 20 board meeting, several Del Oro parents called for an independent investigation into Duncan’s involvement with basketball operations at the school.
Jennifer Poe, a mother of an athlete on the team, said multiple coaches have been pressured to leave the program due to overreach, stating that coaches should be allowed to pick their own staff.
“A mockery is being made of this program. Over the course of just nine months, these girls have had three different sets of coaches,” Poe said.
Barbara Smith said the investigation is needed due to an abuse of power to benefit Duncan, his family and his associates.
“I shouldn’t need to remind you exercising undue influence, especially for personal gain, is expressively prohibited by your own regulations,” she said.
Wendy Biel said an investigation should be focused on administrative leadership, not Duncan.
“Trustees do not hire coaches. Trustees do not manage athletic programs. Trustees do not oversee day to day operations,” she said. “That responsibility lies squarely with the administration.”
Following a closed session Tuesday evening, board President Jessica Spaid said the district’s legal counsel is handling the matter.
“The board received an update from legal counsel regarding complaints regarding Trustee Duncan,” Spaid said. “As mentioned at the last meeting, given the legal nature of this topic, the district’s attorneys are handling it and have been investigating the matter. The board hopes to provide more information as it proceeds but may be limited in what we can share, given that it involves personnel and legal matters.”
The district said it cannot identify the independent investigator because the review is being conducted through legal counsel.
