Schools

MVLA Foundation breaks fundraising record

The Mountain View-Los Altos High School Foundation raised nearly $1.6 million for local schools this year, the largest grant in the foundation’s 35-year history.

Funds raised go to the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District, where past MVLA grants have been used to reduce class sizes and fund Tutorial Centers, Innovative Learning grants, the AVID college readiness program for underserved students, wellness initiatives and enhancements to the College and Career Centers.

LASD approves 5 percent raise for employees

Los Altos School District salaries will see a boost after the board of trustees voted to approve a slate of increases for teachers and other staff.

Trustees authorized collective bargaining agreements with the California School Employees Association and the Los Altos Teachers Association in late April and early May. At a May 22 meeting, the board approved a comparable raise for staff not represented by the prior two agreements.

EqOpTech, founded by Los Altos High School junior Terence Lee, seeks donations of functioning laptops (Windows or Mac) with appropriate power adapters for students in need.

Collection drives are ongoing at Blach Intermediate School and Monta Loma Elementary School.

Art teacher opens studio doors

Pinewood School art teacher Penny Nolan has scheduled an open studio 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Pinewood’s lower campus, 477 Fremont Ave., Los Altos.

Nolan, a Pinewood teacher for more than 20 years, is also a fine-art oil painter and vice president of the Sunnyvale Art Club. Visitors to the open studio may view Nolan’s work and participate in a craft project Sunday to celebrate Mother’s Day.

The Los Altos Educational Foundation joined forces with the Mountain View Educational Foundation to declare May 10 “Stand UP For Public Schools” Day.

The two foundations, which serve 19 elementary and middle schools in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View, will partner with seven nearby foundations and districts to give local residents and businesses the opportunity to support public schools.

LASD solicits teacher housing

The Los Altos School District, in partnership with Los Altos Community Foundation, is compiling an electronic bulletin board connecting district teachers to local residents with available rental housing. The bulletin board will serve both veteran teachers and new hires searching for affordable housing near district schools.

The search for housing will include apartments, in-law units and suites with their own entrances that are available beginning in July or August.