Raymond Davidson’s two children, Raymond and Alicia, are among the lucky ones.

They will have a ride to Schwegler School next fall, even though buses won’t stop at their apartment complex on 24th Terrace.

“My sister-in-law, we lean on her,” Davidson said. “She has two girls that go to Schwegler. We can continue to do that, but it’s not easy. She sacrifices a day shift to fill that.”

More than 1,000 Lawrence elementary and junior high students are affected by the school board’s decision to stop providing transportation to students who live within 2.5 miles of their schools. The move saves the district nearly $450,000 in its transportation contract with First Student.

But unlike the Davidsons, some families can’t rely on relatives or neighbors to get their children to school.

“There is zero way I would let my kids walk to school,” said Seth Nation, who has four children. The two youngest attend Schwegler. From their home near Clinton Parkway and Kasold, the girls would have to cross Iowa Street at 23rd Street.

“That’s a big intersection right there by KU,” Nation said. “A lot of people are making like it’s no big deal to cross 23rd and Iowa and it’s something kids could do.”

Director of special operations Rick Gammill suggested some alternatives to the school bus, such as walking, carpooling or public transportation.

Davidson and Nation don’t believe those are viable options.

“To me, carpooling is not an option unless you know somebody really well,” Nation said. “It’s not that much of a trusting society. I don’t even let my girls go down the block.”

Davidson agrees.

“There are options, but you’re talking about 1,100 kids and most of them are poor,” he said. “It’s unrealistic to think that carpooling’s going to cover this. I don’t see the T working.”

Nation had used the pay-to-ride system — which was available for the last six years to students who live within 2.5 miles of school. The board’s action this week effectively eliminated the pay-to-ride system.

Now, Nation is unsure how his children will get to school safely.

“I have no idea,” he said. “My wife has to be at work at 8. I leave my house every day at 5:30.”

He thinks one idea could be to start school earlier. This school year, Schwegler began at 8:45 a.m.

Davidson is concerned about the potential long-term effects on his children and the other dozen or so in his apartment complex.

“This is mostly poor children we’re talking about,” he said. “Education is a way out for these children. To hold them back now is wrong.”