We are submitting this letter to the Orion school district community to ask that you support at important program at C.R. Hanna Elementary School. This letter concerns the impact of the cuts made to the physical education department at C.R. Hanna.
We have two exceptional PE teachers at C.R. Hanna: Chris Zentic and Reggie Larson. Mr. Zentic has lost his job, and Mr. Larson has been moved to Orion High School for driver’s education. We at C.R. Hanna are devastated by this decision and ask your help as a community in reaching out to board members and administration.
Please ask them to reconsider the impact this loss will have on our children.
Mr. Zentic has been a teacher in Orion since 2001. In that time he has applied for and received approximately $15,000 through grants and fundraising for our school. He has donated countless hours to improving our school. He has built a climbing wall in our gym with materials he purchased with a grant. He has put in playground equipment, built storage areas and made games, stilts and backboards. He has given his time to many school and community activities. The list goes on.
In 2007, Mr. Larson joined the C.R. Hanna physical education department. Together these men have created an incredible PE program that includes every student at C.R. Hanna. The state of Illinois requires that every student have daily PE. Mr. Zentic and Mr. Larson make an impressive team of caring teachers while providing the male role models that our children need. If you know a child at C.R. Hanna, ask them about their PE teachers. The students love and respect them.
Now we are expected to let these valuable, dedicated teachers go, along with a wonderful program that is perfect for elementary students.
Many teachers were given pink slips at the March board meeting.
Nearly all have been recalled in some capacity at this time.
Fortunately, Mr. Larson has been reinstated as a half-time driver’s education instructor. Unfortunately, he will not be at C.R. Hanna teaching physical education.
Mr. Zentic is the only tenured teacher who has not been rehired in some capacity. In fact, he is one of the very few tenured teachers in the entire state of Illinois who has lost his job. He has made it clear that he would be willing to take a less-than-full-time position with no benefits in order to stay in our district and teach our children. Why are we not taking advantage of this opportunity?
