After the Erie School District made the decision to go online to start the year, some parents are worried they may be left with a difficult economic decision. 

Donald Heidelberg is one of those parents. He owns Dapper Don's on West 26th and Peach. 

More importantly, he is a father of four. And now, with his kids staying home to start the year, he is worried he will have to cut hours in order to make sure his kids are looked after. 

"Absolutely, might have to sacrifice some hours", said Heidelberg. "I'll go farther and say I will have to sacrifice some hours".

His businesses has been down about 30% during the pandemic, according to Heidelberg, and he worried other workers will also have the same concern: picking their job or their family. 

And that could affect profit even more. 

"Morning [business] might have been good, but they might have to go to not being good here", Heidelberg said. "We'll see, but that's definitely something I have to think about [taking care of my kids]".

Daryl Craig, Founder of the Erie Blue Coats, thinks it's important to make sure each child is looked after as the school year begins. 

"I don't think anybody in today's society is comfortable leaving a 12 year old or a 13 year old home alone, because the world has changed so much", said Craig. 

He also noted, however, that being able to have in person classes gives some parents a reprieve: "Having some of the kids in school is somewhat of a break", Craig said. "I can focus on these little ones without being distracted. I know my children are safe".  

Heidelberg thinks offering classes in the evening, when parents are home from work, could provide a help to students in the district. 

"When my son and I went online in the morning during the spring, there were maybe one or two other kids on [the class site]", said Heidelberg. "But when he went on in the evening, he almost had a full class". 

It's a decision parents will be looking at as the school year inches closer. 

This story was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.