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Cupertino Union School District, California
| Cupertino Union School District |
|---|
 |
| Cupertino, California |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Stacy Yao |
| # of school board members: 5 |
| Website: Link |
Cupertino Union School District is a school district in California.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 |
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Stacy Yao is the superintendent of the Cupertino Union School District. She was initially appointed to the position on an interim basis in April 2020, but she was made permanent superintendent in February 2021.[1]
Past superintendents
- Craig Baker was the superintendent of the Cupertino Union School District. Baker was appointed superintendent in July 2017. He retired in 2020. Baker's previous career experience included working as the superintendent of the San Carlos School District, as a teacher, and as a principal.[1][2][3]
- Wendy Gudalewicz was the superintendent of the Cupertino Union School District from 2012 to 2017. Gudalewicz's previous career experience included working as a teacher in the San Jose Unified School District, an assistant principal in the Santa Clara Unified School District, and an area superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District.[4]
School board
The Cupertino Union School District Board of Education is composed of five members serving four-year terms. Elections are held at large.[5]
Elections
Members of the Cupertino Union Board of Education are elected to four-year terms on a staggered basis. Elections are held in November of even-numbered years.[6]
Two seats on the board were up for general election on November 5, 2024.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Cupertino Union School District Board of Education maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[7]
| “ |
Public Participation
Because the Board has a responsibility to conduct district business in an orderly and efficient way, the following procedures shall regulate public presentation to the Board.
The Board shall give members of the public an opportunity to address the Board either before or during the Board's consideration of each agenda item.
At a time designated as Public Comments on the agenda of the regular meeting, members of the public also may bring before the Board matters that are not listed on the agenda. To be guaranteed an opportunity to speak under Public Comments, a member of the public must sign up on a Public Comments roster at the beginning of the board meeting. The Board may refer such a matter to the superintendent or designee or take it under advisement, but shall not take action at that time. The matter may be placed on the agenda of a subsequent meeting for action or discussion by the Board.
A person wishing to be heard by the board shall first be recognized by the president. He or she shall then identify himself or herself by name, address, and organization affiliation, if any.
Individual speakers will be allowed two to five minutes to address the Board. The length of presentations will be at the discretion of the Board president.
No person(s) shall orally initiate charges or complaints against individual employees of the District at a public meeting of the Board of Education. All such charges or complaints shall be presented to the superintendent and/or the Board in writing and signed by the complainant. If charges or complaints against an individual employee are brought to the Board directly, they shall be referred to the superintendent for investigation and report.
Without taking action, Board members or district staff members may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by the public about items not appearing on the agenda. Additionally, on their own initiative or in response to questions posed by the public, a Board or staff member may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement, or make a brief report on his/her own activities. (Government Code 54954.2)
Furthermore, the Board or a Board member may provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, ask staff to report back to the Board at a subsequent meeting concerning any matter, or take action directing staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda. (Government Code 54954.2)
The Board need not allow the public to speak on any item that has already been considered by a committee composed exclusively of Board members at a public meeting where the public had the opportunity to address the committee on that item. However, if the Board determines that the item has been substantially changed since the committee heard the item, the Board shall provide an opportunity for the public to speak. (Government Code 54954.3)
Remarks by a person addressing the Board which reflect adversely upon the racial, religious, economic, or political view, character or motives of any person on the staff or at the meeting are out of order. Persistence in such remarks shall be grounds for summary termination, by the president, of the person's privilege of address.[8] |
” |
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[9]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $13,636,000 | $968 | 6% |
| Local: | $140,877,000 | $10,003 | 61% |
| State: | $78,105,000 | $5,546 | 34% |
| Total: | $232,618,000 | $16,516 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $226,988,000 | $16,116 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $206,084,000 | $14,632 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $131,397,000 | $9,329 | 58% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $18,897,000 | $1,341 | 8% |
| Administration: | $27,347,000 | $1,941 | 12% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $28,443,000 | $2,019 | 13% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $12,740,000 | $904 | |
| Construction: | $12,128,000 | $861 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $252,000 | $17 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $7,912,000 | $561 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[10] | $77,780 | $147,491 |
| 2023-2024[11] | $75,515 | $143,195 |
| 2020-2021[12] | $62,533 | $116,900 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[13]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 83 | 89 | 30-39 | 31 | 40-59 | 77 | 71 |
| 2018-2019 | 86 | 91 | 45-49 | 36 | >=50 | 80 | 77 |
| 2017-2018 | 86 | 91 | 50-54 | 37 | >=50 | 80 | 76 |
| 2016-2017 | 86 | 91 | 45-49 | 36 | >=80 | 80 | 77 |
| 2015-2016 | 85 | 91 | 40-44 | 35 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 78 |
| 2014-2015 | 84 | 90 | 40-44 | 35 | >=80 | 75-79 | 73 |
| 2013-2014 | 60-64 | 55-59 | PS | >=50 | PS | 60-79 | |
| 2012-2013 | 90 | 95 | 55-59 | 50 | >=80 | 75-79 | 82 |
| 2011-2012 | 90 | 95 | 50-54 | 50 | 80-89 | 75-79 | 83 |
| 2010-2011 | 88 | 94 | 50-54 | 46 | >=80 | 75-79 | 81 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 82 | 86 | 50-59 | 39 | 40-59 | 79 | 73 |
| 2018-2019 | 85 | 89 | 45-49 | 46 | >=50 | 84 | 79 |
| 2017-2018 | 85 | 88 | 50-54 | 49 | >=50 | 85 | 80 |
| 2016-2017 | 84 | 88 | 55-59 | 44 | >=80 | 81 | 79 |
| 2015-2016 | 84 | 89 | 50-54 | 44 | >=80 | 80-84 | 79 |
| 2014-2015 | 84 | 89 | 50-54 | 43 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 77 |
| 2013-2014 | 70-74 | 65-69 | PS | >=50 | PS | >=80 | |
| 2012-2013 | 89 | 92 | 60-64 | 55 | >=80 | 75-79 | 85 |
| 2011-2012 | 89 | 92 | 60-64 | 59 | >=90 | 75-79 | 87 |
| 2010-2011 | 87 | 91 | 50-54 | 53 | >=80 | 80-84 | 84 |
Ballotpedia has not located graduation data for this district.
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 13,587 | 0.9 |
| 2022-2023 | 13,467 | -4.6 |
| 2021-2022 | 14,084 | -11.2 |
| 2020-2021 | 15,663 | -6.7 |
| 2019-2020 | 16,718 | -3.9 |
| 2018-2019 | 17,363 | -3.8 |
| 2017-2018 | 18,017 | -3.2 |
| 2016-2017 | 18,598 | -1.9 |
| 2015-2016 | 18,948 | -0.7 |
| 2014-2015 | 19,079 | -0.6 |
| 2013-2014 | 19,194 | 0.8 |
| 2012-2013 | 19,035 | 2.0 |
| 2011-2012 | 18,650 | 1.5 |
| 2010-2011 | 18,370 | 2.0 |
| 2009-2010 | 18,010 | 2.4 |
| 2008-2009 | 17,581 | 1.6 |
| 2007-2008 | 17,294 | 1.9 |
| 2006-2007 | 16,971 | 2.4 |
| 2005-2006 | 16,572 | 1.7 |
| 2004-2005 | 16,285 | 1.5 |
| 2003-2004 | 16,048 | 1.1 |
| 2002-2003 | 15,873 | 1.9 |
| 2001-2002 | 15,575 | -0.6 |
| 2000-2001 | 15,670 | 1.4 |
| 1999-2000 | 15,444 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Cupertino Union School District (%) | California K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 70.6 | 12.1 |
| Black | 0.7 | 4.9 |
| Hispanic | 6.9 | 56.1 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Two or More Races | 9.1 | 5.8 |
| White | 12.3 | 20.2 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Cupertino Union School District had 616.61 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 22.03.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 0.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 81.31 |
| Elementary: | 535.30 |
| Secondary: | 0.00 |
| Total: | 616.61 |
Cupertino Union School District employed 8.00 district administrators and 32.00 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 8.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 49.26 |
| School Administrators: | 32.00 |
| School Administrative Support: | 82.50 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 244.04 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 16.00 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 11.00 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 11.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 0.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 55.00 |
| Other Support Services: | 207.17 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2021: Recall effort starts against three school board members
An effort to recall three of the five members of the Cupertino Union School District Board of Education in California began in November 2021. Lori Cunningham, Sylvia Leong, and Phyllis Vogel were named in the recall petitions. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters had to collect 11,542 signatures per board member.[14][15] Recall supporters failed to submit the requisite number of signatures to get the recalls on the ballot by the deadline.[16]
The recall effort started after the board voted in October 2021 to close two schools and consolidate a third. Board members listed declining enrollment, underfunding, and a failed parcel tax as the reasons behind the school closures.[14][17]
An earlier effort to recall Cunningham began in February 2021 but did not go to a vote. Supporters did not submit petitions by the deadline on October 4, 2021.[18][19] Recall supporters said Cunningham failed to represent all children in the district by "solely prioritizing distance learning at the expense of providing a timely option for in-person learning, in lieu of the recommendations of multiple health organizations such as the CDC and AAP." Cunningham said that she shared parents' frustrations and that the district was on the cusp of reaching the COVID-19 metrics it needed for the board to reopen schools.[20]
2016: District cancels teacher housing project
In December 2015, Cupertino Union Superintendent Wendy Gudalewicz announced the district's plan to pursue a housing project for teachers. The plan was to build subsidized housing for district teachers on the district's former Luther School site, which had been leased out for 30 years. On May 24, 2016, the school board unanimously voted to discontinue the project.[21][22]
A group called Save Luther School and Park held a rally in opposition to the teacher housing plan in February 2016. The group argued that the district had not conducted a study to "assess the true needs" and said that there was no evidence that "temporary teacher housing results in long-term teacher retention.” The group cautioned the district from changing the Luther School site in case of future enrollment growth.[21]
The Save Luther School and Park group also said the school board should have been more transparent about the project. The group said that the Luther School community had not been informed of the plan prior to the proposal in December 2015, though district administrators had conducted property negotiations as early as October 2015.[21]
Cupertino Education Association President Dave Villafana said the union supported the housing plan idea, but encouraged the district to do more. “Today, CUSD can work on retaining and respecting our teachers by committing to providing them with a healthy raise–a raise that shows all CUSD employees are honored and respected for the work they do on behalf of Cupertino students,” said Villafana.[21]
The board voted to discontinue the teacher housing plan after rallies were held by parents in opposition to the plan and a petition declaring no confidence in Superintendent Gudalewicz gathered more than 1,000 signatures in April 2016.[22][23]
“We need more transparency, we need decisions to be careful and thought out and engaging of parents, and principals and teachers," said Gregory Anderson, a CUSD parent and 2016 school board candidate. “Instead, what we’re getting is stone wall, undermining marginalization, which will ultimately end up in destroying this community.”[23]
The board cited "tensions among employees, parents and community members” as reasons to cancel the plan. Board members also said the plan had distracted from the district's "primary mission of providing all students in the Cupertino Union School District with a quality education.”[22]
Gudalewicz said the district would pursue other ways to retain teachers. "We just did a 5 percent pay increase when landlords are raising rent 8 percent,” she said. “How do we keep pace with them?"[22]
2015: District transfers entire school staff
At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, the entire staff of the West Valley Elementary School, from teachers and the principal to janitors and food service workers, was told they would be transferred to different locations within the district. The announcement came after a year of tension among the teachers, the principal, and the school's parent teacher organization (PTO), according to The Mercury News.[24]
Cupertino Union Superintendent Wendy Gudalewicz said the makeover of the school was necessary due to tension and school culture, but, citing employee privacy laws, she did not elaborate on the reasons behind the transfer of the district's entire staff. In response to the transfers, Craig McPherson, a West Valley parent, organized a petition against the decision, which garnered 1,200 signatures.[24]
In May 2015, Gudalewicz declared West Valley a “hostile work environment.” Along with the declaration came a directive banning "taunts, sarcasm, gossip, glaring, staring, 'the silent treatment,' name-calling, and the exclusion of some teachers from meetings, emails and plans for any demonstration," according to The Mercury News. The district held an all-day facilitated session on the work environment in June 2015 for teachers.[24]
Gudalewicz initially announced that Principal Theresa Johnson would be transferred and that all of the school's teachers and aides would have to reapply for their jobs. Employee unions filed a cease-and-desist order due to a violation of their collective bargaining agreement. The district followed the cease-an-desist order until district and union officials could meet. At their meeting, union officials prohibited the district from interviewing teachers for the positions they previously held and insisted the district not single out any teachers. Instead, the district announced that all staff from the school would be transferred.[24][25]
At a school board meeting on August 18, 2015, attendees voiced their disappointment at the lack of information surrounding the transfer. “We have heard the perspective from the parents, from the board, from the principal. Here is our perspective: We do not understand what we did wrong, and we have never been given an explanation. And we have tried our best to let it go. What was done to us was by no means fair or just,” said Rina Matthalikunnel, a former West Valley teacher.[26]
Some parents at the meeting called for Gudalewicz to step down and for the school board members to be replaced. “Effective school boards are said to conduct their business openly, honestly and in the best interest of the communities which they serve,” said Theresa Phillips, a West Valley parent. “The decision to reconstitute West Valley was anything but collaborative, transparent and honest. The teachers did not fail our community; our leaders failed our community. The trust that we have placed in our elected officials and administration have been severely breached.”[26]
The school board responded in September 2015 by unanimously voting to support Gudalewicz's decision to transfer all staff from the school. In a resolution, the board said that the district had tried to intervene and address problems at the school prior to the decision.[27]
“When all teachers are removed, it is not a failure of the teachers, it’s a failure of the management. This should have never happened and it is all our responsibilities to take steps to make sure it never happens again,” said Robert Sloan, a former West Valley parent. He called for Gudalewicz's resignation at the same meeting in which the board voted to support her.[27]
Also at the meeting, West Valley parent Jay Welshelfer voiced his support of the transfer. He called West Valley the "sort of the place where principals went to die.” He said, "I’m happy with the changes, my kids are happy, they have teachers that are quite engaged and passionate and enthusiastic.”[27]
Other parents called for the school board to review the district's policy that allowed Gudalewicz to authorize the transfer. They also called for the school board to ask for public input for any future mass transfers.[27]
Phyllis Vogel, board president at the time of the meeting, said she did not think the policy needed to be changed. “I agree that the transfer and assignment of personnel should be the responsibility of the superintendent. The superintendent serves at the pleasure of the board and if she mismanages the district, the board has alternatives and can take action,” said Vogel, who won her re-election bid in 2016. "In the case of West Valley, I believe she made a thoughtful, responsible decision to create a healthy emotional environment for students and staff.”[27]
Cupertino Education Association President Dave Villafana cautioned the district's administration from making similar decisions in the future. “You had a right to reinvent West Valley Elementary School, but it was not the right thing to do. The right thing to do would have been to pull all the stakeholders together and have true mediation.”[27]
Contact information
Cupertino Union School District
1309 S. Mary Ave.
Suite #150
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Phone: 408-252-3000
About school boards
Education legislation in California
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| California | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Cupertino Union School District
- California Department of Education
- California School Board Association
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Los Altos Town Crier, "CUSD picks interim superintendent Yao for permanent post," February 12, 2021
- ↑ The Mercury News, "Cupertino schools name new superintendent," accessed November 6, 2017
- ↑ Cupertino Union School District, "About the Superintendent," accessed November 6, 2019
- ↑ The Mercury News, "Cupertino Union hires new superintendent," accessed May 25, 2012
- ↑ Cupertino Union School District, "Board of Education," accessed June 18, 2021
- ↑ Santa Clara County Elections Division, "Local Jurisdiction Election Schedule," accessed April 22, 2014
- ↑ Cupertino Union School District, "Conduct of Public Meetings 9323," accessed June 18, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Cupertino Union School District, "2024-25 Salary Schedules," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ Cupertino Union School District, "2023-24 SALARY SCHEDULE," accessed February 2, 2024
- ↑ Cupertino Union School District, "Teacher: 2018-19 SALARY SCHEDULE," accessed June 18, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Los Altos Town Crier, "County approves recall petitions for CUSD board members," November 9, 2021
- ↑ Cupertino Today, "Cupertino Union School District Recall Efforts," December 9, 2021
- ↑ Los Altos Town Crier, "CUSD recall effort fails to meet signature goal," April 8, 2022
- ↑ Los Altos Town Crier, "Parents target three CUSD board members for recall after vote to close schools," October 26, 2021
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters," June 29, 2021
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Bren Lehr, Elections Division Coordinator, Candidate Services Division Manager, County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters," October 5, 2021
- ↑ Cupertino Today, "Cupertino parents lead effort to recall CUSD board over school reopening," February 24, 2021
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 The Mercury News, "Resident group opposes Cupertino Union’s teacher housing project," February 24, 2016
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 The Mercury News, "Cupertino Union cancels teacher housing project," June 9, 2016
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 NBC Bay Area, "'We Need More Transparency': Parents Call for Resignation of Cupertino Union School District Superintendent," April 21, 2016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 The Mercury News, "Sunnyvale: Even the lunch lady is new after bizarre housecleaning at West Valley Elementary," August 8, 2015
- ↑ CUSD in Crisis, "Finalization of MOU and Notice to Teachers," accessed October 17, 2016
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 The Mercury News, "Sunnyvale: Former West Valley Elementary teachers speak out, shed tears at board meeting," August 19, 2016
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 The Mercury News, "Cupertino Union’s school board stands behind superintendent on West Valley Elementary shakeup," September 16, 2015
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