Murray is stepping down after heading up the district for 11 years, during which time, supporters say, she fought to maintain arts and music programs in the schools in the face of ongoing budget cuts. To continue this effort, the district is establishing the Linda Murray Arts Endowment Fund.

The "Celebrate the Arts" event on June 4 kicked off the fund. All proceeds from the event, which featured a silent auction, will benefit the district's art and music programs. The auction featured theme baskets assembled by the San Jose Unified district schools and raised about $10,000 toward the district's goal of $25,000. Ticket sales also helped close the gap, with more than 300 people paying $100 a plate to attend.

Once the auction bidding closed, district and city officials got down to the business of praising Murray for her accomplishments during her tenure.

"The main job of the board—and probably the hardest—is to hire and fire the superintendent. Not many boards have the honor to retire one," said Bill Erlendson, the district's director of external programs.

"When Linda began, the district was in trouble, to say the least," Erlendson added. "Today people know the way to San Jose. Dr. Murray has put our district on the map."

Since Murray came to the district in 1993, the number of California Distinguished Schools in the district has risen from four to 27, and the number of Blue Ribbon Schools has climbed from one to 10.

"We've narrowed the gap in student achievement between the lowest- and highest-performing students," Erlendson noted.

Erlendson also cited Murray's ability to win respect by respecting others. "Linda's most endearing quality is her ability to relate to people as people while carrying out all her responsibilities," he said.

Murray has enjoyed the respect of San Jose city officials throughout her tenure. During the evening, Mayor Ron Gonzales cited the homework centers Murray started at various district schools in partnership with the city.

"You don't have to have authority over someone to be a partner," Gonzales said. "What we've tried to do is be a partner to Linda and to the San Jose Unified School District."

During Murray's tenure, voters in the district also passed bond measures totaling $600 million.

"We've worked together on bond measures and gotten them passed in difficult economic times," Gonzales said. "The relationship Linda established with the mayor's office and with City Hall will carry on for years."

Murray reminded the crowd that the evening was a fundraiser, the first of many such events the district hopes to hold annually to benefit the arts fund.

"This isn't just about me," she said. "This is about arts in the schools. We've lost a lot in education over the years in terms of what we can offer our children, and the arts are very special."

Murray said she hopes the fund that bears her name will "bring a love of the arts back to our children" and "allow the arts to be an integral part of their education."

She noted, "When I came here in 1993, I was appalled that we didn't have all that."

As Murray watches her baby granddaughter Cora became more vocal, she said it has brought new importance to the future of education. "I think of her as the future of all our children in San Jose, and hope for them that we can build on this night. It's something incredible for San Jose," she said. "There's no magic answer to funding the arts. It has to come from the local community."