Cupertino Union School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-27
Meeting: 08/27/2026 - 05:00 PM Regular Board Meeting Board Meeting
Location: CUSD Board Room, 10255 N. Portal Avenue, Cupertino
Schedule: 5:00 p.m. Closed Session; 6:00 p.m. Open Session
The Cupertino Union School District Board is scheduled for a regular meeting that includes a study session on special education, an informational report on completed general obligation bond refinancing, several consent items involving student programs and district finances, and closed-session discussions involving district property and existing litigation.
Key Items on the Agenda
Special Education Study Session
The Board is scheduled for an in-depth study session on the District's special education program. The packet reports that 1,094 students, or 7.18% of District enrollment, receive special education services, compared with a Santa Clara County average of 11.5% and a statewide average of 13.5%.
The presentation provides an overview of the special education process, placement options, staffing, crisis-response procedures, services and costs. It describes programs ranging from support within general education classrooms to special day classes, specialized day schools, residential placements, and home or hospital instruction.
Among the staffing figures presented:
- Speech-language pathologists have an actual District ratio of 35 students to 1, compared with an Education Code average limit of 55 to 1.
- Resource staffing averages 19.2 students to 1, compared with a District contract ratio of 25 to 1 and an Education Code limit of 28 to 1.
- Special day classes average 9 students to 1.
- The presentation identifies 68 behavior interventionists, 10 supervisors, 15 mental health therapists, 17 school psychologists, and seven occupational therapists among Districtwide support personnel.
The presentation also highlights rising special education costs. District materials identify salary and benefit increases, higher non-public-school costs, and increasingly intensive student needs as cost drivers. The share of CUSD special education students eligible under autism has increased from 25% in 2023-24 to 29% in 2025-26, with the presentation reporting 30% "as of this writing," compared with a 22% state average.
Major Financial Items
Bond Refinancing Produces $4.50 Million in Taxpayer Savings
The Board is scheduled to receive an informational update on refinancing previously authorized general obligation bonds. The Board had already adopted refinancing resolutions on May 28, 2026, and the two refunding bond series were priced July 15.
The final results reported in the packet are:
- Series A: $16.025 million in outstanding principal refinanced, reducing the average interest rate from 3.33% to 2.74% and producing $305,835 in net debt-service savings.
- Series B: $44.53 million in outstanding principal refinanced, reducing the average interest rate from 4.11% to 3.32% and producing $4,190,800 in net debt-service savings.
- Combined final savings: $4,496,635, within the $3.97 million to $5.29 million range presented to the Board in April.
The packet projects property-tax-rate savings ranging from $0.01 to $0.83 per $100,000 of assessed valuation across fiscal years 2027 through 2040. The refinancing savings reduce property-tax obligations and do not affect the District's General Fund.
$518,298.66 Mandated Cost Block Grant Reimbursement
On the consent agenda, staff recommends approving the District's 2026-27 Mandated Cost Block Grant reimbursement submission. The District expects reimbursement of $40.41 per average daily attendance, for projected state revenue totaling $518,298.66.
The grant is an optional reimbursement mechanism for state-mandated activities that otherwise require school districts to document eligible costs individually.
Student Programs and Services
Staff recommends approving a 2027 overnight trip for Cupertino Middle School Advanced Band, Choir, Drama and Dance students to Anaheim from April 7–10, 2027.
Students are scheduled to participate in activities that include Disney performing-arts workshops, soundtrack recording, and performances. The agenda identifies a $134,350 financial impact funded through parent funds and a requested contribution of $1,200 per student covering transportation, lodging, admission and workshop fees, food and staffing costs.
District materials state that no student will be excluded because of an inability to pay.
WorkAbility Transition Funding
Staff recommends approving an agreement with Fremont Union High School District covering August 15, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The partnership is intended to support special education students transitioning from middle school to high school, with an emphasis on career awareness and exploration.
The agreement would make available up to $7,500 in WorkAbility grant funding per District middle school, excluding indirect costs. District middle-school representatives participating in Student Transition and Advocacy Reaching for Success, or STARS, would attend six collaboration meetings and coordinate transition services and WorkAbility activities at their sites.
Property and Operations
Outdoor Classroom Agreement at 1170 Yorkshire Drive
Staff recommends approving a memorandum of understanding among the District, the City of Cupertino and Tessellations, Inc. governing a designated outdoor area at 1170 Yorkshire Drive.
Under the proposed agreement:
- Tessellations could use the area as an outdoor classroom and for related outdoor activities.
- Tessellations would assume responsibility for maintenance, landscaping, repairs and weed abatement.
- The City would cap the existing irrigation system, while Tessellations would manage alternative watering systems.
- If the agreement ends or the City reassumes control, Tessellations would be responsible for restoration, including restoring irrigation and replacing approximately 4,400 square feet of sod.
- Any party could terminate the agreement with 90 days' written notice.
The agenda lists no District financial impact and notes that Tessellations has received grant funding for project costs.
Disposal of Surplus District Property
Staff recommends adoption of Resolution 26-27-04, which would authorize disposition of District equipment identified as unusable, obsolete, no longer needed or unsuitable for school use.
The accompanying inventory is extensive and includes MacBook Air laptops, iMacs, iPads, computer and charging carts, document cameras, projectors, printers and other equipment. The proposed resolution would authorize the superintendent or designees to use legally permitted sale or auction procedures, with certain transactions returning to the Board for ratification.
Governance and Consent Agenda
The consent agenda also includes:
- Approval of the August 6, 2026 regular Board meeting minutes.
- Appointment of Chris Izor and Joan Orvick as representatives of the Cupertino Elementary School Administrators Association on the Budget Advisory Committee.
- The student-trip, WorkAbility, Mandated Cost Block Grant, Tessellations MOU and surplus-property items described above.
The Budget Advisory Committee is an advisory Board committee focused on advocacy and communication, revenue enhancement, and equity. Committee members represent different educational partners within District boundaries and do not have decision-making authority.
Closed Session
Before the open meeting, the Board is scheduled to meet in closed session on three real-property matters and one existing-litigation matter.
The property negotiations concern:
- 10480 Finch Avenue, Cupertino: price and payment terms for a Property Exchange Agreement involving the District and the City of Cupertino.
- 6990 Melvin Drive, San Jose: price and payment terms for a potential lease with prospective lessee(s).
- 1170 Yorkshire Drive, Cupertino: price and payment terms for a potential lease with prospective lessee(s).
The Board is also scheduled to confer with legal counsel regarding existing litigation identified in the agenda as Student #06-18-26A.
Public Participation
The agenda includes public-comment opportunities before closed session and during the open meeting. General public comment is for matters within the Board's jurisdiction that are not otherwise listed on the agenda; comments on listed items are heard when those items come before the Board.
Speakers may participate in person or virtually after submitting an online Comment Card according to the meeting procedures. Individual comments are generally limited to three minutes, and the general public-comment segment for non-agenda matters is limited to 20 minutes if necessary.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The special education study session is the meeting's most substantial programmatic presentation, combining information on student enrollment, service models, staffing, crisis response and the financial pressures associated with providing mandated services.
Financially, the packet highlights two different developments: the already-completed bond refinancing is expected to save taxpayers $4.50 million over time, while the consent agenda asks the Board to authorize a state reimbursement submission expected to bring $518,298.66 into the General Fund. The Board is also scheduled to consider agreements affecting special education transition services, a major student performing-arts trip, use of District-related property at Yorkshire Drive, and disposal of a large inventory of surplus equipment.
