Monthly news and updates - Volume 1, Issue 9

Well, this is it! Today we are wrapping up another remarkable school year! This time of year is all about celebrations – promotions and graduations taking place across all CUSD campuses.

It is in moments like these that we have to pause and think about all the hard work that has led to these celebrations. The hard work that everyone in CUSD – teachers, support staff, administrators, community partners, volunteers, families, and students – contributes to is what make these accomplishments possible.

As a former classroom teacher, I extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the educators who helped their students navigate this year with commitment, determination, and resilience to accomplish their goals, and to families who supported their students every step of the way.

Congratulations to those graduating today on reaching this milestone after years of effort and growth!

Here's to a restful summer for all CUSD staff and volunteers who did important work to ensure our students thrived at each of our campuses.

I wish all of you a safe, memorable summer, and I look forward to welcoming our returning students to a new school year on August 7th. 

Sincerely,  

Sharon Ofek 

Superintendent

August will be here before we know it! As you begin making plans for the next school year, be sure to review the 2025–26 Academic Calendar for important dates, holidays, and breaks.

📅 2025-26 School Year Academic Calendar

The first day of school is scheduled for Thursday, August 7, 2025.

On June 4, 2025, the Board of Education approved CUSD FORWARD, the district’s new strategic plan, marking a key milestone in a year-long, community-driven planning process.

Launched in fall 2024 with support from Dr. Doug Domene of Leadership Associates, the process included a multi-day Strategic Visioning & Input Session in February 2025, where nearly 50 students, families, staff, and community members came together to shape the district’s mission, values, and goals. Afterward, a diverse staff team synthesized this input into a draft plan, which was reviewed by stakeholders and shared with the Board during a March 2025 study session.

The final product - CUSD FORWARD - includes a clear Mission, Core Values, and four key Focus Areas with defined Objectives:

• Focus Area 1 - Student Achievement & Instruction
• Focus Area 2 - Safety & Wellness
• Focus Area 3 - Engaged Families & Community Partners
• Focus Area 4 - Optimized Resources

With Board approval in place, the next steps include developing detailed action steps success indicators, and timelines. The full implementation plan will return to the Board on September 10, 2025, with regular progress updates to follow.

Together, we’re moving CUSD forward!

As we wrap up the school year, we’re already preparing to welcome our next class of CUSD students—and we want to ensure your family is ready, too! Registration for the 2025–26 school year is now open! To begin the process, visit our Enrollment and Residency webpage for full details, required forms, and step-by-step instructions.

If your child will turn five years old between September 2, 2025, and September 1, 2026, we encourage you to call Carmelo School at 831-624-8047 (press #) to explore the no-cost Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) programs CUSD will offer this fall. Families will have access to both Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and PreKindergarten (PK) options under California’s expanding early childhood education plan.

Residency Verification – What You Need to Know:

To help us keep our school community updated and accurate, residency verification is required for the following students:

• All new students entering CUSD
• Students entering TK, Kindergarten, 6th grade, or 9th grade
• Students with a change of address
• Students transferring from another district or school

These families will need to submit a complete CUSD residency affidavit along with verifying documents during the registration process.

Returning students not entering a transition grade (TK/Kindergarten, 6th, or 9th) do not need to re-register but will need to re-establish residency annually by submitting one current utility bill to their school site during registration at the beginning of the school year.

Please note: The collection of utility bills and annual residency re-verification for returning students will take place later this summer.

At CUSD our top priority is student safety; on campus and beyond. Safe firearm storage at home is a critical part of protecting children and preventing tragedies. Unsecured firearms are a leading cause of accidental injuries, deaths, and suicides among youth.

Under California law (Senate Bill 906), all school districts must annually share information about safe gun storage with families. Alarming data from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Pew Research shows that firearms are now the leading cause of death for children under 18 in the U.S.—a public health crisis we cannot ignore.

We urge all families to review their firearm storage practices and follow best practices to help keep our children safe. The resources below offer clear guidance:

• Six Basic Gun Safety Rules – California Attorney General Rob Bonta
• Safe Storage & Child Access Prevention – Giffords Law Center
• Securing Your Firearm – Project ChildSafe

Thank you to the many families who already take this responsibility seriously. Together, we can ensure the safety of every student, every day.

Reports/Presentations

• Superintendent Sharon Ofek and members of the Administrative Cabinet Team presented the Board with the proposed 2025-2030 Strategic Plan—CUSD FORWARD. The plan was unanimously approved; for additional information, please see the article previously in this newsletter.
• The Board held two public hearings on the 2025-2026 Update to the 2024-2027 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Proposed Budget. These items will be brought back to the next Board Meeting for approval as required by Ed. Code.

For further information regarding the above agenda items and other items agendized, visit the District's Board Meeting Agenda Platform GAMUT or watch the CUSD 6.4.25 Board Meeting on the District's Board Meeting YouTube Channel.

Next Board of Education Regular Meeting: June 18, 2025