Those involved with the center have a little more than two months to raise $1.3 million in order to begin construction of the facility this summer.

That figure, combined with the cash that the group already has, adds up to $6.5 million. It represents 90 percent of total construction costs, the figure the Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District has deemed necessary before awarding construction contracts. If the funds are not raised before June 6, the school will lose its lowest construction bid of $6.1 million.

To raise the $1.3 million, the Saratoga High School Foundation is looking to gain financial support from community members and major donors. "Our plan is to reach out to the Saratoga community to make the PAL center a reality," said Bill Barmeier, foundation board member.

Approximately 2,000 letters were sent out two weeks ago, requesting funds from three separate groups: existing donors, thanking them for their support but asking for more; parents of Saratoga High students who have not yet contributed money; and parents of current Redwood Middle School and elementary school students.

"Those children will be the recipients of the PAL. If everything goes on schedule, it will be built in fall 2004," said foundation board member Paula Cappello.

The foundation has also enlisted the support of Bella Saratoga owner Bill Cooper, who is rallying downtown businesses to help out in the fundraising effort. Between now and the beginning of June, three restaurants will regularly contribute a portion of their proceeds to the PAL project.

Customers who bring in a PAL Center coupon and dine at The Basin on Mondays, The Plumed Horse on Tuesdays and Bella Saratoga on Wednesdays will enable the foundation to receive 12 percent of the funds the restaurant made on the bill.

Cooper said the owners of The Plumed Horse and The Basin were not hesitant in agreeing to participate in the fundraiser, but other restaurant owners that he approached were not as receptive. "They're not in the most generous of moods," Cooper said. Besides the economic climate, many Saratoga eateries are losing money because patrons are trying out new restaurants in nearby cities and towns.

"I think it's kind of a no-brainer, myself," Cooper said. "We like the center. We think it's going to be good for our community and the Village."

Cooper "has been basically the driving force behind us," Cappello said. "I just think, 'What could be better?' That's an incredibly strong band of support."

"I think the PAL will drive businesses to downtown. Frankly, I think those businesses need help," she added.

On March 18, the high school district's board heard from Saratoga High Principal Kevin Skelly. The $6.1 million amount from West Bay Builders Inc., Skelly said, was "below what we expected and higher than we'd hoped." The board's direction not to sign the contract, however, did not come as a surprise to Skelly, who said he has been working with district staff throughout the planning process.

The total project cost, including construction, parking, seats and other fees, is $7.2 million. "Ninety percent was the amount agreed upon" to award the bid, Skelly said.

To date, the foundation has raised almost $2 million in cash, plus an additional $250,000 in matching grant-type donations. "We're optimistic that there will be additional donations of that similar type that will come in," Barmeier said.

Measure B bond measure funds, approved in 1998, account for $3.1 million of the project's current cash. Measure B money is earmarked for school facility projects, Cappello said. "We are in no way impacting our ability to fund more teachers."

According to Barmeier, the bid is only good for 90 days. In the event that the foundation does not raise the full $1.3 million, "we would continue fundraising and send the project out to bid later," Barmeier said. "We are very determined, and we intend to pursue the construction of the PAL Center."

"I think the PAL will renew the sense of community that exists here," Cappello said. "It makes the school such a cultural center."

"It's a crying shame that we have to go to Los Gatos for our events" such as athletic games and musicals, Cooper said. "High schools are what really build the identity of a community."

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