The New Millennium Foundation approved and distributed $109,800 in grants to teachers across departments at the meeting, according to foundation Chairwoman Joanne Rodgers. The foundation is a nonprofit organization of parents, teachers and administrators and community members who raise funds to enhance the educational environment of Los Gatos High School. Over the past three years, the foundation—not to be confused with the Los Gatos Educational Foundation, which raises funds for the elementary and middle schools—has granted more than $367,000 to the high school.

Grant requests this year ranged from DVD players, high-resolution televisions and overhead projectors to laptop computers and printers, plus athletic equipment. Rodgers said foundation members were assigned to help each department with the grant-approval process and will follow through to see that the grants are spent correctly.

Rodgers added that the teachers couldn't be happier. At the meeting, she said they were extremely appreciative of the funding at a time when budgets cutbacks are affecting every classroom.

"They are so thrilled that we are here to help them out," Rodgers said. "This is pretty much capital equipment. We're not trying to pay for salaries or programs at this time."

Trudy McCulloch, LGHS principal, said the math department—headed by teacher Jeanne-Marie Rachlin—especially had a reason to be excited. The math department, among others, recently moved into a new building on campus and received a large chuck of the grant money—$75,000. The math department hadn't requested grant money from the foundation the past two years, Rachlin said, but with new facilities came new needs.

"We haven't asked for anything, because we timed our request to coincide with the opening of the new building," she said.

More than 80 percent of the $75,000 will be used for two new wireless computer labs. The computers will be portable on rechargeable carts, so they can be used in any math classroom. The department members will also be purchasing needed laser printers, overhead projectors and memory modules. Rachlin said the new computers will feature geometry software, giving students a hands-on approach to math so they can visualize and "play with" geometric concepts.

"The math department feels incredibly supported by the foundation," said Rachlin, who has worked in the school district for 18 years. "We couldn't have these labs without them."

The new building, which also houses the world language department, still smells like fresh paint. It's three stories high; the former building was only two stories. It includes 21 classrooms, staff break rooms, and new lockers and blends in with the existing, attached administration building.

"The math teachers have enough whiteboards to last them a lifetime," said McCulloch, referring to the dry-erase boards on three walls of the math classrooms, as well as extra storage space.

She added that the new girls locker room, community room and aquatic center are all in progress, with expected completion at the end of May or beginning of June. She added the school has closed down the business, art, music and history classrooms for renovation purposes.

"We are getting there," McCulloch said. "We may actually finish this project in my lifetime."

For more information about the New Millennium Foundation, visit www.lghsnmf.org. Individuals interested in obtaining matching funds from their companies for technology and math purposes can contact nmf@lghs.net.