Dear Los Gatos Union School District parents, staff and community members,

• The state of California has cut our budget.
• Property taxes are not enough.
• The district started the 2011-12 school year already behind.

The combination of these three factors means that we are forced to cut our budget. We do not have another choice. These cuts will take place over the next two school years— 2012-13 and 2013-14—if the district is to remain healthy and strong.

The district's Board of Education packet to be posted by Friday, Feb. 24 on the district website at http://www.lgusd.k12.ca.us/ will contain detailed information about ways we can reduce expenses. At 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28, trustees will decide how to proceed during a meeting at Daves Avenue Elementary School multi-purpose room, 17770 Daves Ave., in Monte Sereno.

This is not an easy situation, and there are no easy fixes. Everyone in our District will be touched by these decisions. That is why I have been working so closely with each of our principals — Rosanne Adona, Lisa Fraser, David Freed, Jim LaTorre, Lisa Reynolds, Dana Steele, Susan von Felten — and with our dedicated district office administrators – Leslie Paulides, Jason Pedersen, Maggi Reser, Marla Rodriguez, Bitsey Stark - to find solutions.

They all understand the budget deficit facing our district and have had the chance to comment on and contribute to the plan. Most of the ideas that you will read about have come from our principals and administrators. I want to thank them all, again, for their time, their work, their dedication, and their commitment.

I have also read the comments provided by the parents and staff in the recent annual survey and have highlighted what each of you had to say for the Board and community. Those highlights were presented at our Feb. 6 Board meeting; expect more details of the survey results on Feb. 28.

I now encourage every parent and staff member in the Los Gatos Unified School District to attend Tuesday's meeting. See details below and please note there is a change of location from prior meetings.

We need to work together so that we can continue to offer a K-8 comprehensive, competitive and consistent educational program to the more than 3,000 students in our five schools. Every school is important to me. Every child in every school is important to me. I also stand behind and support the more than 275 staff members who come to work every day to help our children succeed. Again, let me say this is not an easy situation, and there are no easy fixes.

Please plan on attending the Board meeting and take the time to read the Board packet materials in detail. Thank you for your time and support as we continue to work together for the betterment of all our students in the Los Gatos Union School District.