NEWPORT BEACH : Group Protests Cuts in Physical Education

More than 50 parents and teachers attending the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board meeting Tuesday night protested plans to eliminate physical education classes for elementary school students in the district.

The group pleaded with the board to spare the physical education teachers from cuts. They read letters from parents who were unable to attend the meeting, particularly Spanish-speaking parents who said they did not have time or money for their children to play extracurricular team sports.

“This has provided them an opportunity to play sports at no cost. It has also offered them an opportunity to cross the language barrier and be a winner,” said physical education specialist Evasia Holle of her students at Wilson and Pomona elementary schools, where Latino children make up more than 70% of the student body.

“Most of the parents do not have the money or time. . . . If we eliminate the program they will never have the opportunity to play sports at no cost,” she added.

The cuts come as the district continues to find ways to cover a $2.7-million shortfall in its estimated $90-million budget. So far, it plans to eliminate up to almost 100 teachers, cut athletic funds, charge for school bus rides and reduce staffing at the Costa Mesa High School farm.

If the teachers are laid off as planned, physical education classes would be eliminated from the daily curriculum, and classroom teachers would be expected to make up for the loss with some type of in-class exercise.

“I have to be very honest and say I could not develop (a course in the classroom similar to) what they do,” said Sheila Rogers, a classroom teacher at Newport Elementary School. “I beg of you to reconsider giving me the support. This is very, very close to the classroom.”

The physical education classes at the district have been heralded as a model program. The program is sometimes used as a case study for college courses in physical education.

Aside from the instructors’ salaries, the program receives no district funds and relies on corporate and community donations for sports supplies such as balls, gloves, hoops and nets.

Nine teachers provide instruction at the district’s 17 elementary schools and all have received notices that they may be laid off, saving the district about $360,000 next year. Some of those teachers may be given jobs elsewhere in the district.

The board will not make any binding decisions until it passes the budget next month, but some board members said they would try to salvage the physical education program.

“As a parent I realize how much this program does,” said board member Edward H. Decker.

Added member Roderick H. MacMillian: “I hope we’re able to continue the PE program, but that’s down the line.”