Sandra McGonigal, superintendent for the Los Altos School District, urged parents and community members to donate and volunteer to help close an annual funding gap as the district begins a new school year.

McGonigal said state, federal and local funding “is just not enough” to provide the programs the district seeks to offer. She asked the community to “consider making a donation and to volunteer at your local school PTA and with the Los Altos Education Foundation.”

The superintendent said PTA chapters and the Los Altos Education Foundation fund services and programs that the district otherwise cannot fully provide, including physical education, music, art docents, the Living Classroom program, computer science support and mental-health counseling. She also listed PTA support for community-building events, staff appreciation and classroom materials.

McGonigal framed the fundraising appeal as a partnership between families, PTAs, the Los Altos Education Foundation and Los Altos School District. She thanked the community for past support and said any contribution “truly matters,” noting the district relies on supplemental giving each year to maintain those programs. She did not specify a dollar amount for the funding gap or targets for donations.

Parents and community members who want to help were asked to contact their local school PTA or the Los Altos Education Foundation; McGonigal said she looks forward to a strong school year ahead.