Cabrillo Board Tackles Bond Transparency, Celebrates Cunha Turnaround

The Cabrillo Unified School District board met Jan. 22 with a packed agenda that swung between celebration and tension — a portrait of a small coastal district trying to build momentum on multiple fronts. An encouraging progress report from Cunha Intermediate School gave way to a pointed exchange over how a multimillion-dollar architectural contract was awarded without board input, underscoring an ongoing transparency debate that has dogged the district.

• Cunha Intermediate posts sharp gains: math scores up 7.5%, suspensions cut nearly in half, chronic absenteeism declining through home visits
• Architect selection for high school bond project draws board pushback; ~$2M contract expected at next meeting for formal vote
• Teachers union and district near a three-year labor deal through 2027-28, a dramatic shift from a recent near-strike
• Elementary school fields in disrepair; board presses for action, with turf estimates around $3M per field
• Prop 55 renewal push underway; tax generates $540,000 annually for the district
• Dual language Spanish immersion master plan complete, to be presented at next meeting

Why it matters: Cunha Intermediate is emerging as a bright spot in a district that has wrestled with enrollment declines and community trust. The data Principal Victor Guzman presented suggest that intentional culture-building — not just academic programming — is driving results.