Districts hoping to maintain staffing levels and continue crucial programs need to do some creative fundraising to make up for the shortfall.

The Los Gatos Education Foundation seems to have done just that with the creation of the Save Our Schools (S.O.S.) Campaign, which provides funds for the Los Gatos Union School District.

The foundation's goal is a lofty one—to raise $1 million by May 23—and it plans to reach that goal through donations from district families, as well as community and corporate sponsorships.

The requested donation for those with children attending district schools is $600 per family—a small price to pay for everything that the $1 million will save. And a great benefit of this plan is that the money will be managed locally, not through Sacramento.

What's the alternative? Teacher layoffs, class size increases, the elimination of instructional aides, school library shortages and out-of-date textbooks and instructional materials—factors that would be detrimental to the quality of education for our children and detrimental to the reputation of the school district.

California, shamefully, ranks 33rd among states nationally in funding for education. Since the state will most certainly slip further and further down that list with the proposed cuts in funding, schools—Los Gatos among them—will suffer academically. The Los Gatos district, which now ranks among the top 5 percent in academic performance in the state, enjoys an outstanding reputation, which helps make the area very desirable. That translates into increased property values. Lowering the standards for the district would damage that reputation and ultimately impact those property values in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. It's really in the best interest of everyone in the area to support the S.O.S. Campaign.

The foundation's slogan is "Public education is our right; quality education is our responsibility." That doesn't just mean it's a responsibility for parents in the district but for everyone in the Los Gatos and Monte Sereno communities. It's important that the parents support the foundation's campaign, but it's equally as important for community members—especially those who were lucky enough to take advantage of the Los Gatos school system to gain a solid educational foundation—to contribute as well. Donation forms are available at www.lgef.org.

Superintendent Mary Ann Park will discuss the district's financial situation at two upcoming forums—April 22 at Blossom Hill Elementary School and April 25 at Lexington School, both at 8:45 a.m.—and foundation representatives will be on hand to explain their very creative fundraising plan.

It's a plan designed to save teachers' jobs, quality education, property values—a plan to save our schools.