Tight school budget means less gym and swim for grade schoolers

Elementary students in Petersburg won’t get as much physical education next year.

Rae C. Stedman Elementary Principal Heather Conn said it comes down to limited education funding. Renting Petersburg’s community pool and gym is expensive for the Petersburg School District. So is staffing physical education classes. Conn said the district’s tight budget this year means they will have to reduce hours.

“We have been conservatively budgeting but at this time, even we are being affected,” she said.

This isn’t the first year the district has had to make cuts. School officials say that’s because of a...