Sun Valley Elementary [Reno, Nevada] pushing to keep volunteer P.E. teacher

[tonysam]

It's a hell of a note when physical education is considered a "frill" and schools have to have funds raised for them to pay for their programs. This guy happens to be retired:

Lately, Burr has helped out with keeping kids active in physical education at Sun Valley Elementary School three days a week, but budget cuts quickly have been paring down schools to their core mission of academics. Burr’s position has been supported by community donations but that money is rapidly becoming in short supply, if it’s not already gone.

“I’m at the mercy of fundraisers,” Burr said.

The school held a jog-a-thon in spring 2009, but it didn’t bring in enough money to support the PE program through June of this year. Other efforts and monetary gifts have come in but they’re still not enough to last the semester, said Sun Valley Principal Rhonda Van Deusen.

The school has received generous assistance from businesses in the community to keep the PE program alive, Van Deusen said. Hobey’s Casino contributed $1,000 and Kohl’s A-Team Award gave $500. In December, Sun Valley Optimist provided more than $3,500 of gifts for kindergarteners through third graders and Sun Valley Kiwanis members also volunteer their time and donate bikes for various raffles and incentive programs, she said.

More