Charlotte County hires more teachers for upcoming school year

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Education scores dropping across the United States in math and reading. (CREDIT: Flickr/ MGN)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Elementary students in Charlotte County Public Schools are getting their weekly gym days back.

After years of budget cuts, the district is hiring physical education teachers and media specialists for its 10 elementary schools.

“The kids will be excited, when they come back and know they’ll have PE every week and media every week,” said Mike Riley, district spokesman. “They’re going to be excited, it’s a win for everyone.”

Budget cuts limited gym and media classes to once every two weeks for elementary students.

About $550,000 in Hurricane Charley reserve funds was used to hire 10 teachers, allowing students to now have classes every week. The district saved the money in case it had to give back funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“I can tell you having to be a former PE teachers, they love you, they’re excited to get outside,” Riley said. “The media specialists they know, they’re like wizards with these books. They know what books the kids are going to grab onto.”

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