Park stressed the importance of local funding from Home and School Clubs, parcel tax revenues and the Los Gatos Education Foundation, which all help to fill the gap for what the state doesn't fund. As of Jan. 24, the foundation kicked off its 2005 campus campaign, with the goal of once again raising $1 million to achieve the district's goals, such as maintaining small class sizes, offering music, science, math, visual and performing arts instruction and resources, teacher development as well as social education.

"The things we're asking for will make a significant difference," said Suzanne Boxer-Gassman, assistant superintendent of instructional services. "These are things parents can see and feel."

The Los Gatos Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported by parents, neighbors, community members and local businesses. The proceeds raised by the foundation benefit students and staff in the Los Gatos Union School District, which includes Blossom Hill, Daves Avenue, Lexington and Louise Van Meter elementary schools, along with Raymond J. Fisher Middle School.

"We wouldn't have music, art, the physical education programs, science, all the extras, support for math and reading; we wouldn't have those programs without the local funding," Park said. "If they don't raise $1 million, we'll have to sit down with our budget and see what we're not going to have. I don't want to have that discussion."

There are three components to the annual campaign: The Campus Campaign and Business Partners Program, which both run from Jan. 24 through March 15, according to Robin Mano, the foundations's vice president of marketing, along with the annual Taste of Tuscany auction held in October. Last year, approximately 86 businesses contributed about $83,000 to the campaign. This year, Campus Campaign Vice President Kris Lamson said organizers are hoping to bring in $100,000 from businesses. They are hoping to do this through matching grants from companies and through the Buzz Book, a school phone directory that features advertising pages for businesses.

"The reality of the world today is there's no such thing as a free lunch," Park said. "There's also no such thing as a free education. If we didn't have the Home and School Clubs, the parcel tax and the foundation, we'd be way under funded. We couldn't provide the kinds of programs the community expects."

But raising $1 million takes nearly 30 foundations board members, who are all parent volunteers, and many charitable donors who are committed to educating Los Gatos children. This year, the foundation is asking parents of children in the school district to give $600 for one child, and $900 for two or more children. While foundation President Alicia Barton said they'd like everyone to give at the asking level, they realize not everyone can. Participation in the campaign in any way is essential. Barton said 65 percent of district parents gave at the asking level last year, and this year they'd like to bring that participation level to 100 percent.

Mano said there are still additional reasons people should consider writing a check to the foundation or making a contribution on the foundation's website.

"It's also property values," Mano said. "One of the reasons people move here is because of our school system. And if these schools went down, your property values wouldn't be as much."

As the campaign moves forward, Lamson said long-term goals include focusing more on funding programs rather than paying for teachers' salaries. She added foundation parent volunteers serve as classroom representatives and have undergone extensive training to try to touch every parent in the district personally. The representatives are available to answer questions from parents about the campaign and generate awareness around the foundation.

"By the end of the campaign, if you haven't been contacted by an LGEF parent personally, we haven't done our job," Lamson said.

Barton said there's an added bonus with the campaign for coffee lovers, known as the early bird donor program. If people make a donation—of any amount—by Feb. 11, they will receive a coffee mug for free drip coffee or discounts on specialty drinks through March 15 at Boulevard Coffee on Los Gatos Boulevard or Caffe Siena on Main Street.

"We call it the $600 or $900 coffee mug," Barton said.

For more information about the campaign or to contribute, visit www.lgef.org.