Community Mobilizes Against Cunha Teacher Layoffs as Enrollment Forecast Darkens

The Cabrillo Unified School Board's April 9 meeting was overtaken by an extraordinary outpouring of opposition to the proposed elimination of two teaching positions at Cunha Intermediate School — 14 speakers, 232 student signatures, and a letter signed by the entire Cunha faculty — while an enrollment consultant delivered data showing the district could lose 130 students in three years as birth rates collapse.

• 232 student signatures and 14 speakers flood board meeting to oppose cutting two Cunha teaching positions that would eliminate AG Science, STEAM, and sound lab electives

• Enrollment projected to drop 130 students districtwide in three years, with kindergarten-age cohorts potentially shrinking by a third within four years

• Board approves two electric school buses at under $200,000 district cost via state CalStart grant

• $719K Farallone View Elementary School playground approved, but board member raises equity alarm about Hatch Elementary's 500+ students

• Superintendent pledges to explore CTE funding to enhance rather than cut the ag program, calling staffing changes "preliminary"

Fourteen speakers — students, parents, teachers, ranchers, and union representatives — packed the public comment period to oppose the proposed elimination of math teacher Marcelline Springer and AG Science teacher Chris Benoit at Cunha Intermediate School.