By Traci Newell

Cindy anderson/special to the Town Crier Mountain View Los Altos High School Foundation President Dee Gibson presents the $600,000 check to Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Superintendent Rich Fischer.

The Mountain View-Los Altos High School Foundation presented Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Superintendent Rich Fischer with a check for $600,000 May 16 at a dinner held at Chef Chu’s.

“The money we have raised is an indication of the value our community places on sustaining and improving the quality of our schools and on the value we place on education,” said Dee Gibson, foundation president.

The money the foundation raises each year assists the district in reducing class size and providing tutoring and college counseling.

“Without the foundation, these programs could not be sustained at their current levels,” Gibson said. “Some would not exist at all.

About half the funds raised go toward reducing class size to 20:1 for freshman English and math classes. According to the foundation, without the funding class size would be closer to 30:1. Additionally, as a result of the funds, the district is eligible for matching funds from the state of California earmarked specifically for class-size reduction.

Other initiatives funded by the foundation include tutorial centers, college and career centers, technology replacements and upgrades, research database access, extended library hours and instructional materials for classes at Alta Vista High School.

“We commit this money in the budget each year to make things happen,” Fischer said at the May 22 board meeting. “So when they give us the check at the end of the year, we really feel great.

“The schools could not provide the programs we offer without the support of the parents and the broader community,” he said. “The foundation funds help to offset cuts in state funding and provide our schools with programs that are of high value to parents and students.”

The foundation raised $500,000 for the district last year and the goal for the 2006-2007 school year is $650,000.

The money is raised by members of the foundation who distribute brochures to families in the district asking for financial aid.

“It’s not like asking them for money,” Gibson said. “It’s like telling them about the services we provide for the students.”

Members of the foundation board and several members of the school board, including board president Julia Rosenberg, Judy Hanneman and Susan Sweely attemded the dinner.

Also at the dinner, the foundation board recognized retiring Superintendent Fischer’s contributions and welcomed new Superintendent Barry Groves to the district.

Fischer said that when he first came to the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District 10 years ago, the foundation raised $100,000.

The board presented Fischer with a “heart of gold” tie, in honor of his heart of gold. The tie is covered with red hearts, with one golden-colored heart that stands out from the rest.

For more information on the Mountain View-Los Altos High School Foundation, call 559-0445.