The music rooms in Reynoldsburg's middle schools have been quiet all year. But students are still playing.

About 60 sixth-graders from Hannah Ashton and Waggoner Road middle schools meet twice a week for a parent-organized band at Reynoldsburg High School. That gives them some of the instruction that, until this year, would have been offered in class.

The district eliminated art, music and physical-education classes at the elementary and middle schools as part of $11 million in budget cuts after an operating levy was defeated in May.

The chance to resurrect those programs also was turned down when voters said no to a 9.9-mill levy request on Nov. 3.

Parents and teachers have tried to compensate for the loss of "specials" by creating after-school activities such as the sixth-grade band or by weaving art, music or physical activity with other lessons.

District officials said they won't be able to return those programs to the school day without new operating funds.

"For this year, it is what it is," said Assistant Superintendent Dan Hoffman. "With five days of operating cash (left) at the end of the school year, there is not going to be any additional resources for staffing.

"Whatever art, music and P.E. that is delivered this year, it will be through the creativity and extra effort of the current staff."

Laura Cloud, who did not support the district's levy requests, said officials should have cut elsewhere in the budget.

"I almost feel like they are holding the parents and the students hostage," said Cloud, whose daughter graduated from the district in 1999.

School officials said they have identified art, music and physical-education classes for cuts because Ohio schools are not required to provide instruction in those areas for kindergarten through eighth grade

In Delaware County, Big Walnut officials are considering dropping music, art and physical education after the defeat of a five-year, 6.7-mill operating levy this month. Officials said they don't plan to decide until after a levy request in May.

In Franklin County, positions in the same areas were at stake in Westerville and Worthington when voters approved taxes in those districts this month.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education has not heard of schools eliminating such programs, especially at the elementary level.

Music programs across the country are taking hits, however, said Michael Blakeslee, senior deputy executive director at the National Association for Music Education.

"We're hearing problems in many areas -- not just the urban and rural districts, but in wealthy suburbs as well," Blakeslee said in an e-mail.

Reynoldsburg teachers and students said the loss of specials is apparent.

At Slate Ridge Elementary, librarian Rhonda Eberst said that students in past years would be preparing for the holiday musical. The walls would be covered with artwork, and she would hear students walking to the gym throughout the day.

Instead, school has been quiet. "Children do not get a complete education without music, art and P.E.," she said. "Music and art are more than singing and drawing; they give children experiences that carry over into their academics. When they learn to communicate through word, singing or movement, they learn to think creatively, and that makes them better readers and writers."

Many teachers said they've been trying to give students a taste of those lessons in their classrooms.

Lauren Vega, a fifth-grader at Waggoner Road Middle School, said she did jumping jacks and pull-ups during a math lesson and made sketches for science and social-studies assignments. But it's not the same as having a gym or art class.

In an art class, Lauren said, she has more freedom to draw or paint as she would like. In science class, she is expected to copy drawings for her notes.

"It's important for kids to let out what they need to let out, and that's one of the things I enjoy doing -- drawing," she said. "I can let out anything inside me."

cboss@dispatch.com