Some families at South Range Local School District are learning their children will have no choice but to find a new school. 

Open enrollment students in grades 7 and 8, who are in Individualized Educational Programs (IED) are not being renewed, leaving them worried for their kids' wellbeing. 

Jarred Zapolnik, South Range Local School District superintendent, said without cuts, the workload would be too much for teachers.

“Not just the case load, but actual workload with specific teachers. So my fear would be that we would be violating the operating procedures and that students just wouldn’t be getting an optimal education,” said Zapolnik.

Hundreds of people weighed in after podcasters the MLO Bros posted a letter that was given to South Range parents. The letter said their open enrollment application was denied because of the "Set District capacity limits by grade level, school building, and educational program."

Families who were sent the letter said they were shocked.

“For my wife to get that news and myself to get that news that she was no longer going to be welcome into the South Range family, it was very disturbing,” said Pat Adams, South Range Local School District parent. "She was so upset that she couldn't continue to drive, and she was on their way to pick her up.”

Jodi Yenik, another South Range Local School District parent, feels the program has helped her daughter in many ways.

“South Range has been absolutely phenomenal with my daughter, so this is why it’s really a hard pill to swallow,” said Yenik. “[It’s] Just completely shocking. I didn’t think that a community that supported us for that many years, since the first grade, would deny us education just like that.”

Zapolnik said because of the number of students in these programs, he had no choice.

“We're just at capacity. So, our current board policy states that we have grade level capacity considerations. There's just various considerations. And we have to look at that annually to see if we are ensuring that we are optimizing education,” said Zapolnik.

Adams' daughter has gone to South Range since kindergarten, and has been a part of the IED program since first grade. But now they have to look elsewhere. 

“Our daughter needs that help and are we going to be able to find another school that's willing to give her that same help that south range has been giving her,” said Adams.

Zapolnik said the families affected are in grades 7 and 8, and that hiring more help is not possible because there is no guarantee that the need will exist beyond this year.

“The point of open enrollment was never to take so many students that you are hiring staff for the open enrolled. It was always with the staff you have, obviously, fill the gaps with open enrollment students,” said Zapolnik.