Volunteers Step Up to Rally Funds for Half Moon Bay High Pools

Community leaders asked Cabrillo Unified trustees on Oct. 8, 2026, to let a volunteer committee help finance and promote the district's two-pool project at Half Moon Bay High School. No vote was taken, but the pitch sets up a spring 2027 fundraising push. The same meeting showed $73.7M in Measure K bond money still unclaimed and a teachers union ready to fight staffing cuts.

• Pools committee proposed to drive outreach, operator planning and post-bid fundraising for the high school's new pools

• $73.7M in Measure K funds remains unobligated ahead of a January priority-setting session

• Cunha Intermediate reports a 41% suspension drop and targets 5% gains on state tests

• Teachers union says Cunha cuts backfired and opposes community college instructors on campus

• Three contracts pulled from consent, then approved 5-0: a CTE grant liaison, backup cab transport and a contracted special ed teacher

A Community Bet on the Pools

Why it matters: The board committed roughly $6M in bond money in June, expecting it to be replaced. A volunteer committee now aims to close that gap once construction is priced in spring 2027.

The basics: Earlier in 2026, trustees approved a design and partial funding for a two-pool solution at Half Moon Bay High School. A competition pool would pair with a smaller, warmer teaching pool.

Where things stand: "This is an informational presentation with no funding approval requested tonight," said Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes.

Jill Jacobson, Anjali Gupta, a board member of Coastside Families Club, and Liesl Tanner, pool chair of Friends of Half Moon Bay Park and Rec, proposed the Coastal Committee Supporting Community Pools. The fixed-term body would run until the pools open. It would have four strands:

• Communication and outreach

• Research on operating models, citing Sonoma High School, where a nonprofit runs community access to a smaller warm pool

• Co-developing an RFP for a community operator

• Fundraising

"I imagine a coastside where every kid can fall in the water and survive," said Gupta. She stressed the committee's limits: "All of the official elements, so contracting, budgeting, supervising construction, stay with Cabrillo Unified."

Fundraising waits for a real number. "When we have that contracted budget for the pool construction, then I think we can kick off community fundraising in earnest because we'll know what the gap actually is," Gupta said. Jacobson said a local nonprofit is in talks to hold private donations as a pass-through to the district.

The other side: The design itself is still in flux. Tanner described a 14-lane competition pool and a 3-lane teaching pool. Drew, district facilities staff, said the version shown was outdated. Board Vice President Peter Cerneka described the current design as 10 competition lanes plus 4 shallow lanes. Construction is estimated at 15 to 16 months, with a possible opening in about two years.

Trustee Breanna Lafontaine pressed on the money: "If we're putting $6 million bond dollars out there with the hope that that will get replaced. How do we protect that money for facilities?" Staff said reimbursements would go to a restricted account. Fund 21 was mentioned, then questioned, so the exact mechanism remains unsettled. Lafontaine also asked that the athletic director and swim and water polo coaches be part of planning.

Cerneka pledged that "my wife and I will be giving to this effort," but drew a line: "I still oppose this design because it's the wrong decision … But I don't oppose this effort, and I think that's an important distinction."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No action was taken. Swim families, water polo programs and parents seeking year-round public pool access gain an organized voice. The district keeps the contracting risk and the $6M exposure. Audience members stood in support.

What's next: The committee's first community meeting is planned for Wednesday, Nov. 4, tentatively at the high school.

$73.7M in Bond Money Awaits Direction

Why it matters: How the remaining Measure K capacity gets split will decide which campuses get upgrades next.

Where things stand: Roger Anchartechahar, project manager with Banner Construction Management, reported progress across several campuses:

• The Fairlawn View playground is installed, including a 16,000-pound whale feature.

• The Hatch shade structure is in closeout.

• El Granada's Building D is on track. The 6,500-square-foot building holds two kindergarten classrooms, a library and a breakout room. "We can say we are ahead of schedule and things are moving as planned," Anchartechahar said.

• A 1.1-acre irrigated grass field at El Granada is tracking for completion at the end of December.

A new obligations chart showed paid, encumbered and estimated costs, using 5.5% annual escalation. "We have $73.7 million that hasn't been obligated yet," said Drew. Lafontaine said she had long wanted that view.

The other side: Cerneka argued the $19.8M pool estimate leaves out a roughly $2.08M architect fee. "So a more accurate number for that is really closer to $22 million. Is that accurate?" he asked. Staff said the estimates include all hard and soft costs. Cerneka said his reading of the June record stands.

Cerneka also asked how the El Granada grass field was chosen. Staff pointed to a November GMP (guaranteed maximum price) amendment. He then raised teacher input on new high school classrooms: "I've heard many comments from people saying that they feel like they weighed in on the pool and then they never heard anything back." Staff said display boards with typical classroom layouts are posted in the teacher lounge. Staff added that state DSA (Division of the State Architect) review puts GMP decisions about six months out.

What's next: "We will take direction from the board to prioritize the rest of the $73.7 million," Miramontes said. That will happen at a January facilities master plan study session.

Cunha's Culture Turnaround, Academic Gap

Where things stand: Principal Victor Guzman said Cunha Intermediate serves 498 students, with about 17% on IEPs and 31% eligible for free or reduced lunch. "We decreased our suspension rate last school year compared to the '24-'25 school year by about 41%," he said. He credited adult visibility, restorative conversations and alternatives to suspension.

Interventions include:

• Lunchtime math tutoring

• A Title I-funded homework club

• ELPAC tutoring for English learners

• A Boys and Girls Club partnership serving 40 students

The goal is to raise CAASPP scores in English, math and science by at least 5%.

The other side: Guzman acknowledged a weak spot in the California Healthy Kids Survey. On whether students have a caring adult at school, he said "that number is not where it needs to be, to be honest with you."

Student Board Member Jamie questioned the test data: "I do think that some of the scores might not actually be reflective of the students' learning." She and Cerneka raised concerns about students rushing state tests. Guzman described modified testing schedules and incentives.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Cerneka said he has heard repeatedly "that things are different than they were several years ago at Cunha, and it's moving in the right direction." Miramontes urged the school to apply for Schools to Watch recognition.

Union Says Cunha Cuts Backfired

Why it matters: The teachers union is framing any dual-enrollment expansion as outsourcing. That sets up a labor fight over a possible high school schedule change.

Where things stand: John, Cabrillo Unified Teachers Association representative, read a statement from Cunha staff. It said spring staffing cuts were based on enrollment declines that never came. Cunha enrollment is up 10 students, and nine classes now exceed 30 students. He said Fairlawn View enrollment is up 30.

He also said the Fairlawn View special day class (SDC) ran nine weeks without a certificated teacher. In addition, promised health-plan information meetings never happened before a two-week open enrollment.

The other side: The district is weighing a modified block schedule to expand dual enrollment. The union does not object to college credit, but it opposes community college instructors teaching on campus. It cited the loss of advisory support and the rigor of year-long AP courses. "As a union, we strongly object to our jobs being outsourced and our students being sold out," John said.

What's next: Cerneka later requested a board study session on class sizes and college-prep and AP investment, citing the union's comments. No date was set.

Contracts Pulled for Public Airing

Where things stand: The board approved its agenda 4-1 after moving three contracts from consent to discussion at Cerneka's request (For: 4, Cortes, Cerneka, Lafontaine, Alexander; Against: 1, Trustee Carmen Daniel; Absent: 0). Daniel gave no reason on the record.

CTE liaison: An addendum to the Career Launch Path agreement adds a short-term liaison for career technical education (CTE). The liaison will pursue state facility grants. Miramontes said the district is on a list for $1.5M and eligible for $3M each for Buildings G and A. "We're on the list for $1.5 million, but we don't have anybody to help tie the connections, right?" he said. Lafontaine confirmed the contract covers this year only, with hopes of eventually moving the work in-house.

Backup transport: A Green Cab Peninsula agreement, capped at $69,000, adds a third backup vendor for SDC and IEP student transport. "If we never call them, we don't pay it," Miramontes said.

Preschool SDC teacher: An Ed Theory agreement, capped at $141,120 at $120 an hour, staffs Los Listos Preschool inclusion and SDC classes. "The position was posted and no applications were received," Miramontes said. Cerneka stressed that "this is not the preferred method for the district, that we contract."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: All three passed (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0). Students with disabilities keep services. The union's SDC staffing complaint suggests contracting remains a stopgap, not a fix.

• Resolution 15-2026 puts $469,560 in Education Protection Account funds toward classroom instruction, 5-0.

• Resolution 14-2026 waives the CalSTRS 180-day rule so retired health services coordinator Susan Vanna can train her successor through December, 5-0.

• Cerneka requested reports on CTE outcomes, the teacher visa process, per-pupil spending and administrative costs.

• Emmett Phelan, new executive director of the Cabrillo Educational Foundation, offered to partner with the board.

• Remaining consent items passed 5-0; the board then recessed to closed session on a student expulsion and a personnel matter.

Looking ahead: The pools committee's first community meeting is planned for Wednesday, Nov. 4. Trustees will set priorities for the remaining $73.7M in bond funds in January. Pool fundraising waits on a contracted construction price expected in spring 2027.