By Traci Newell
In an effort to assuage the pain of Los Altos School District’s looming $800,000 deficit, the Los Altos Educational Foundation has pledged $1.92 million for the 2008-2009 school year and will donate additional one-time funds totaling $400,000 to the district.
Randy Kenyon, assistant superintendent for business services, reported the net impact on the bottom line would be $591,000 more than originally expected from LAEF next year, with $266,000 more from the increase in annual funding and $325,000 from the one-time gift to offset program cuts or class-size increases.
Teresa Kersten, president of the LAEF board of directors, said the foundation is dedicated to raising the extra funds to ensure that library programs do not face cuts and that class sizes for fourth through sixth grades remain as they are, in the high 20s.
Kersten said the annual request per family per student will remain at $800, but the foundation will encourage parents to give extra money to help the district during this time of financial difficulty.
The additional, one-time $400,000 grant to the district is money the foundation has in its reserves.
The district is waiting for the California Department of Education to release its annual May Revision before district officials begin discussing which programmatic cuts need to be made to curb the $800,000 deficit they currently anticipate. With the additional foundation funds, the district may only have to cut approximately $200,000.
Kenyon will travel to Sacramento in late May to receive the May Revision of the state budget and to analyze what it means for the district. He is scheduled to report back to the board at the May 28 school board meeting.
Last week, the educational foundation announced it had raised $1.7 million, its total financial commitment to the district, for the 2007-2008 school year.
The annual grant enables the district to hire teachers and aides to help maintain smaller class sizes and enrichment programs such as technology, science, art, music and physical education for children in grades K-8.
The foundation increased its fundraising goal $150,000 this year to sustain and enhance the programs it funds.
Key programs funded districtwide this year included “Step Up to Writing,” a program that teaches a step-by-step approach to the writing process, new science initiatives and “best practices” training for teachers to better use digital technologies.
In the past 25 years, the foundation has increased its annual fundraising goal twentyfold to meet the growing needs of the district in response to declining state funding.
“We are grateful to members of the Los Altos community for once again stepping up to support our public schools through their generous donations,” Kersten said. “LAEF contributions keep class sizes small, provide critical enrichment programs and enable our students to compete effectively in the 21st century.”
During its 25 years, the foundation has raised more than $14.8 million to strengthen the district’s academic programs.
“LAEF’s significant financial support is integral in helping the Los Altos School District maintain its status as one of the top-ranked school districts in the state,” Superintendent Tim Justus said. “Given current state funding priorities for education, the annual LAEF contribution to our schools will greatly impact what the district can provide to our students next year. With continued support from LAEF, we are able to create and maintain an environment that enhances learning and allows each child to reach his or her potential.”
Contact Traci Newell at tracin@latc.com.
