The district's primary fundraising organization kicked off its SOS—Save Our Schools—campaign last week, which aims to raise $1 million by May 23. A series of meetings was held by the district and the Los Gatos Education Foundation to educate parents about the budget crisis and spread the word about the campaign.

The foundation's strategy is to ask each family to contribute $600, which will pay for programs and staff that the district plans to eliminate in anticipation of declining enrollment and Gov. Gray Davis' proposed education cuts being implemented. What will be saved includes program initiatives in science, reading and writing, math, and the visual and performing arts; instructional aides; library material and staff; textbooks; and teachers.

District families will receive a mailer as well as a phone-a-thon call between April 27 and 30, requesting donations of $600 or more. In addition, the foundation is pushing its business partners program and asking for matching grants from corporations.

At each of the meetings, Superintendent Mary Ann Park made a presentation on the financial crunch that Los Gatos faces. Park said that while the state Legislature may not vote 2003­04 figures into place until as late as November, the district is forced to make allocations for the year before June. So far, the district is limiting purchases, undergoing a hiring freeze and planning to cut 15.8 teacher positions from its five schools. More than 30 teachers received pink slips last month notifying them that they may not have jobs next year.

"We're looking at a situation this year that the nightmare is coming true for me," Park said. Along with the governor's proposed cuts, Park said, the district will potentially receive less money from the state because of declining enrollment.

Park said the district stands to lose more than $800,000, but district officials do not yet know from which programs the state will take that money.

SOS campaign committee member Rusty Ingram, father of a first-grader at Blossom Hill, pointed out that while Los Gatos schools are among the top 5 percent in the state, California is ranked 33rd in the nation for how much it spends per student and is 20 percent below the national average.

"I used to be one of those dads—at least until eight weeks ago—who was happy writing a check to the foundation," Ingram said. Ingram then attended a school board meeting, where he heard about the budget details and became involved.

"I refuse to allow the future of my child's education and my family to be in the hands of Sacramento," Ingram said. "We have to find out a way to take back our schools and not allow Sacramento to take from us the quality of our education."

According to Ingram, Saratoga and Los Altos schools managed to raise more than $1 million in six-week periods. "If they can do it, we can do it," he said. The $600 per family "is all private funding, and the state can't put their hands on it," Ingram said. "Every penny of your donation goes directly to the district."

"If you can donate more than $600, please do," Ingram said. Ingram added that those who give will be honored in a Wall of Fame at the various schools and in a paid advertisement in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.

Not only did Ingram urge parents to help out but he encouraged them to ask neighbors, grandparents, friends and companies to pitch in. "For those of you who aren't active, it's time to get active," Ingram said.

Park pointed out that other suggested sources of funding included the $91 million that the district has in bond money—which cannot be touched for anything other than bond projects—and parcel tax funds, which can only be used for salaries and programs if the community agrees to it.

More than 250 people attended the four meetings. "I think they understand the importance of this," Park said later. "I've felt real support from our community. They're asking questions, but they're not saying, 'We don't want to give.' "

"I think the Los Gatos Education Foundation is wonderful. We're so lucky to have it," said Kelly Hall, parent of two Blossom Hill students. Hall said that while she is supportive of the fundraising efforts and plans to donate, she is angry that public education cannot receive sufficient funding from the state.

"I'm OK with writing a check, but I'm not OK with what the state is doing right now," Hall said. "We're making up for somebody else's mistake. I liken this to my son not cleaning his room and my daughter doing it for him."

"I have seven weeks left in the district and I'm writing a check," said Fisher Home and School Club President Sherill Downey, whose son is in eighth grade.

Lexington parent Karen Gustafson said attending the meeting was a learning experience. "I feel like I know a lot more about what's going on," Gustafson said, adding that the district is doing a good job of communicating with residents.

Gustafson said she wanted to hear the presentations to "find out what the $600 is going for." As the smallest school in the district and in an isolated mountain location, Lexington parents "want to make sure that we get our fair share" of the money that is raised, Gustafson said.

While Lexington is only losing a half-time teacher, Gustafson said the school only has one teacher per grade. "There's not a whole lot more that they can take away."

Gustafson said she plans to donate $600, but she is unsure if she will give the entire amount to the SOS campaign or give part of it to the Lexington Home and School Club. "I'm wondering if that might be a way to give money more directly to my child," Gustafson said.

Ingram pointed out, however, that the clubs are unable to pay for teachers' salaries and that the district as a whole benefits from the funding.

"You'll realize that the core of our district really is in the foundation," added a president of the Daves Home and School Club.

Teri Kent, foundation president, said the new business partners program asks businesses to take on sponsorship at different funding levels. "If we could get the business community involved, then we can for sure meet our goals," Kent said.

According to Kent, the SOS effort, as a partnership between the foundation, home and school clubs and the district, is truly unique.

"We've never done anything like this before, but the magnitude of the issue is so large," Kent said.

For more information on the SOS campaign, visit www.lgef.org/SOS.html or call the Los Gatos Union School District at 408.335.2000.