CALABASAS : Dinner to Benefit School Programs

A parents’ booster organization is planning a benefit dinner to raise money to modernize high-technology programs for schools in the Las Virgenes Unified School District.

The Las Virgenes Technology Foundation hopes to raise $20,000 from the Oct. 20 event at the Calabasas Golf and Country Club.

“We’re kind of a ‘gap-funder,’ if you want to call it that,” said Adrian Stern, president of the nonprofit foundation. “We fill those gaps between the traditional state and federal funding sources.”

The $50-a-plate dinner will honor Supt. Albert Marley, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary with the district.

The money will go toward purchasing a variety of high-technology products that enhance learning.

“We’re not talking about just computers here,” said Donald Zimring, the district’s assistant superintendent. “We’re talking about CD-ROMs, on-line learning, such as Internet, interactive CDs, satellite learning, the use of cable in the classroom.”

The fiscally strapped district, which has been forced to cut about $4 million from its budget over the last five years, has been hard pressed to keep up with today’s constantly changing technology, said Zimring.

Because the district has so many comparatively wealthy families, “we don’t qualify for many of the programs that schools in the urban districts would qualify for,” he said.

For information or reservations, call Stern at (818) 906-2230.