CENTRAL OHIO -- Wednesday marked the first day of school for thousands of Central Ohio students.
NBC 4 got answers as one local district headed back to class with quite a few changes.
While it's a day usually met with excitement, students in the South-Western School district already are meeting challenges associated with cuts.
Wednesday morning marked the beginning of Clay Rife's and Elizabeth Sliker's sophomore year at Grove City High School. You could say they started the year off on the wrong foot -- literally.
“I would ride the bus if the levy had passed,” Clay said.
District officials cut all high-school busing due to budget issues, and the two students said they have to hoof it nearly 2 miles each way.
“Oh boy, it’s going to be hard, and it’s going to be a long, long year,” Clay said.
“It's not fun at all,” Elizabeth said.
Clay and Elizabeth weren’t alone, either.
Students weren’t the only ones who are upset about the changes.
Just ask the parents who have to drive their youngsters to school every day.
Alinda Streeter has to take time off work to drop off her daughter.
“At $8.50 an hour, I’m missing two hours of work, which is money out of my pocket, plus the gas in my tank to get her here,” Streeter said.
High-school busing was only one of several significant cuts made in the district. Walk zones for grades Kindergarten through eighth also were expanded.
The changes will be felt on Friday nights, too, when football stadiums remain dark and empty. Sports and all before- and after-school activities also were cut.
Clay and Elizabeth are being hit twice, in a way.
“We were really looking forward to having marching band, and we were really excited,” Elizabeth said.
“I'd give up half my lunch to be in the choir,” Clay said.
“Kind of makes you think how the rest of the year's going to be,” sophomore Trey Harshaw said. “A lot of people moved and stuff because of no sports, which means a lot of friends from last year won’t be here.”
As students adapt to a new school year with new challenges, uncertainty remains.
What is certain, though, is that a 7.4-mill levy vote is three months away.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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