The school's Performing Arts and Lecture Center campaign has just days to raise the remainder of the $6.5 million it needs in order to begin construction this summer. That leaves only days to make up a shortfall of just under $400,000.

If the amount is not raised by the May 30 deadline, the Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District board will not give the green light for the project to continue, since it will not have the 90 percent of project costs in hand; the school will then lose its current lowest construction bid and be forced to re-advertise for contractors.

The school board will make that decision at its June 3 meeting.

Although the target amount has not yet been met, "the campaign has exceeded our expectations," said Bill Barmeier, board member of the Saratoga High School Foundation. "It certainly has been a community effort throughout Saratoga," with parents and others donating to the cause.

Local businesses are also playing a part, with The Basin, Bella Saratoga and The Plumed Horse committing a portion of their proceeds one day a week to the PAL project.

In the 10 weeks since the "Final Push" fundraising campaign began, more than $1.5 million has been donated to the project. "To have raised more than $1 million in 10 weeks has been an incredible milestone for us," Barmeier said.

But, Barmeier added, "we're determined to make that PAL Center a reality."

Barmeier said the "cornerstone of fundraising" has been one-on-one contact—campaign volunteers establishing personal contact with potential donors and holding small gatherings at their homes.

And, according to Saratoga High Principal Kevin Skelly, volunteers of specific cultures are targeting their ethnic groups, with outreach toward the Chinese and the Indian communities. Additionally, parents of particular students, such as those in band and orchestra, are participating in targeted outreach.

"These groups' activities have taken on a life of their own and greatly facilitate our efforts," Barmeier said.

Despite those efforts, PAL supporters are still looking to the community at large for financial support.

"The PAL Center ... will be a first-class facility for the performing arts and other group events, such as lectures, films and meetings. It will fill a glaring need within our local schools and be a wonderful resource for the entire community for decades to come," Barmeier wrote in an email to supporters.

"I ask—if you have not donated to the PAL Center campaign yet—please consider doing so now."

For more information on the PAL campaign, visit www.shsf.org.

The June 3 high school board meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Los Gatos High School.