To paraphrase Charles Dickens opening lines in “The Tale of Two Cities”:
The 1980s were THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES. It was the worst because of the District's financial woes and declining student enrollment. This combined with the passage of Proposition 13 put all public schools in a terrific economic bind. The FUHSD thus began a “Reduction In Force” policy that resulted in many young teachers...losing their jobs or being “R.I.F”ed. This meant that young teachers such Gary Bianchini, Mike Quinn, Tom Clarke, Ed Brackenbury, Chris Kenison and Tom Dooley, who had little seniority would lose their jobs at Cupertino.  The TOADS were forced to disband, doing their swan song at the 1881 Hall of Fame Rally. To further cut costs the FUHSD Board approved the Superintendent’s request in 1981 to close Sunnyvale High School . In 1984 Jack Roper informed the FUHSD Board members that he was going to close still another school.  This time he didn’t want any public debate. One board member, Linda Lanterman, made sure that didn’t happen. It soon became evident that  Roper had his sights set on closing Cupertino . Then, in what might possibly be Cupertino High School ’s finest hour alumni, teachers students, parents, classified employees and community leaders rose together in protest. Rallies were scheduled and quickly moved to larger facilities because of the numbers attending. Sunnyvale High School had gone down without much of a fuss but not TINO. Alumni, parents, students and the Cupertino community at large wore “Save Tino” buttons” and placed bumper stickers on their cars proclaiming “ Cupertino High Will Never Die. In the ensuing debate over school closure two true champions arose to fight for the cause of CHS. A Tino parent, Keith Kennedy provided evidence about  population demographic forecasts that strongly showed that Cupertino was the poorest choice for closure. Kennedy also went on to make a strong case for closing no school at all. Still it all hinged on the vote of the five board members of the FUHSD. Never before had a board gone against the recommendation of a superintendent, but Linda Lanterman was able to convince two other board members, Claire Hobbs and John Houlihan,  that no school should be closed. There would be other threats of closure but Tino had survived the worst. A fire which destroyed the new Science   Building actually helped keep CHS open because it eliminated vacant classrooms. Athletically the ‘84 Senior footballers keyed a season that will long be remembered.  We defeated Saratoga in an epic battle in the rain and mud for the De Anza League Championship but then fell just short of a CCS Championship. Also during the 80s both basketball and wrestling flourished at CHS and the Beach Bums stepped in to take the TOADS place at the Yearbook Dance and the Hall of Fame Rally. Through all the turmoil students and faculty bonded together as never before. How about Jennifer Jones ’88 who saved rallies not only for CHS but all the Districts schools. The CHS Hall of Fame brought alumni and students of the 1980s together as we celebrated their accomplishments. Yes the 80s were in some the respects the WORST of times, but it was the BEST that eventually persevered. THANK YOU 1980s!!!