Miramonte High School families heading into the 2026-2027 school year will find a new face running the building. Bill Schloss, who took over as principal on Wednesday, July 1, is spending his first weeks meeting staff, reviewing budgets and learning how Miramonte operates compared with his last post at Cupertino High School.

Schloss replaces Ben Campopiano, who resigned to take an administrative position at Orinda Union School District. Schloss has led high schools for 15 years across Southern California and the Bay Area, most recently serving two years at Cupertino High in the Fremont Union High School District. Before that, he was principal of California High School in San Ramon.

In a profile published Monday, July 27, in The Orinda News, Schloss said his immediate priority is methodical: get to know hundreds of people, examine budgets and understand the community's priorities.

"We are not funded as well as we should be, so getting outside support is vital to keeping our programs running the way they should and creating the programs our kids need," Schloss told The Orinda News.

The numbers back him up. According to the AUHSD budget challenges page, per-student state funding for the district is the lowest of all high school districts in California. The parcel tax rate has not increased since 2010, and the district has absorbed more than $4 million in ongoing reductions over the past two years, cutting teaching staff, academic counseling and librarians.

Schloss noted that both AUHSD and the Fremont Union district are "basic aid" districts funded primarily by local property taxes, but that Fremont Union is funded significantly better. He said community fundraising will be critical to maintaining the elective programs and support services Miramonte families expect.

The district's 2025 parcel tax attempt, Measure T, fell short with 63.63% yes votes, missing the two-thirds threshold. The AUHSD Governing Board will decide Wednesday, August 5, whether to place a new parcel tax measure on the Tuesday, November 3, General Election ballot.

Beyond funding, Schloss sees Miramonte's athletic culture as a strength he wants to build on. He described football as "the tone-setter at the beginning of the school year," saying a successful football program can set the stage for the rest of the year. He called Miramonte's sports programs stronger than Cupertino's and praised the range of activities available to students outside the classroom.

Schloss, a USC graduate and history major, lives in Berkeley with his wife. He said the couple has spent weekends in Orinda over the past two years and already feels at home. He is also active in the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California Interscholastic Federation.

A community town hall on AUHSD budget challenges is scheduled at Miramonte on Monday, August 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the MHS Library, with a Zoom option available. Walk-thru Registration Day is Monday, August 10, and the first day of school is Tuesday, August 11. Back to School Night follows on Thursday, August 27.