The foundation Together Helping Education recently donated $200,000 to the Las Virgenes Unified School District. The donation will help to reduce class sizes and bring back teachers who have been laid off in recent years due to lack of funds. The program was instituted for the 2012-2013 school year and is expected to provide students with more individualized attention by instituting smaller classes.

T.H.E. Foundation attempts to narrow the gap between funds LVUSD requires and those that the state government provides. Over the past six years, LVUSD’s budget has been cut by over $11 million. By hosting fundraisers such as donation drives and community parties, T.H.E. Foundation has helped secure outside funds to donate to the district and help fund the public education system.

“We believe that students at every age level will benefit from appropriately-sized classes that provide a learning environment that will maximize their educational growth,” said co-chair of T.H.E Foundation Janice Dingman.

Because of the donation, CHS was able to provide two additional English classes for this school year. The district also reduced the student to teacher ratio in kindergarten through third grade classes to 22 students per teacher. While the change was most dramatic for elementary schools, students in all grade levels have been affected by the donation.

In the past six years, LVUSD has laid off 40 teachers. Meanwhile, most classes, including core classes, from the 2011-2012 school year averaged at about 30 to 40 students. At CHS, all classes, English courses in particular, have become significantly smaller.

“In the past I have had much larger English classes, and I rarely had time to discuss the material individually with my teacher,” said junior Kailey Nolen. “My English class is much smaller this year, and I have a lot more one-on-one time with my teacher to ask questions.”

Through this donation, T.H.E. Foundation hopes to improve the educational experience for all LVUSD students.