Jan. 12 could be one for the history books at Gahanna-Jefferson schools.

Superintendent Mark White said last week’s visit from Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was momentous and marked the first time the high school has hosted a vice president in its 130 years.

“This is a day of celebration,” he said. “As it came together, I thought, what a difference a year makes.”

At this time last year, the district was planning to take a levy issue to voters for the third time after a second try was defeated by 94 votes.

“We were preparing to lay off staff, and perhaps it was our darkest days in history,” he said.

Although last year was fraught with trials, White said, it was also the finest because staff continued to focus on learning, thus leading to an improved state report card rating of “excellent with distinction.”

“I grew up in an oil-refinery town in Texas and never thought I’d be here welcoming the vice president,” White said. “I ask students, ‘Where will your path take you?’ Let them know we dream of greatness.”

Biden and Duncan addressed the 550-member senior class of Gahanna Lincoln High School, parents and local dignitaries about keeping the middle-class dream alive by keeping college affordable.

A White House sign that read, “A strong middle class É Making college affordable,” was hung high behind the speaker’s platform at the town-hall-style meeting.

Student council president Sanchi Arora said the district has provided her with 12 years of opportunities.

The high school has a 95-percent graduation rate, and 86 percent advance to higher education, she said.

Arora introduced Duncan, who said he was thrilled to be at the home of the Lions.

“I go to a couple schools a week,” he said. “There are no great schools without great teachers and staff. Every morning, your principal gives a life lesson. I wish everyone in the country had these opportunities. The seniors here aim for college.”

According to Duncan, the jobs of the future need some type of higher education.

“Higher education over the past years has become more expensive, and families struggle,” he said. “We fear more families across the country feel college is for the rich folks.” Duncan highlighted some steps President Barack Obama’s administration has taken to help address college affordability, such as increasing the maximum amount of the Pell Grant from $4,731 in 2008 to $5,550. He pointed to the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act’s American Opportunity Tax Credit, which is worth up to $2,500 a year for four years and helps pay for tuition, fees and textbook expenses.

Starting this year, Duncan said, some students will be able to cap their monthly federal student loan payments at 10 percent of their discretionary income and will have the balance forgiven after 20 years.

“We need to educate our way to a better economy,” Duncan said. “Some form of higher education has to be a goal, and the goal is to graduate.

“You guys will be the class to lead this country where it needs to go, and our job is to help you.”

Biden said he had made sacrifices to help put his three children through college. His wife is an educator and still teaches. “College is a ticket to make a living,” he said. “The middle class strives so their kids can do better than them.”

A “perfect storm” has occurred over the past four or five years, Biden said, as parents could not use their homes as equity for college loans.

“There was no way to borrow,” he said, noting that he couldn’t send his children to college without borrowing.

Biden said he, Obama and their spouses would not be in their current positions without the help of scholarships, loans and grants they had received.

“We want to restore the bargain,” he said. “We can’t afford to let people lose faith in the possibilities. It’s more than just access to education. Sixty-eight percent of jobs will require a degree beyond high school.”

Biden said he wants today’s students to have the same opportunities that he had to attend college.

“You’ll be surprised the spark that will burn a lifetime if you get a college education,” he said.

For senior Morgan Sheets, the visit marked an once-in-a-lifetime experience for her and her classmates.

“It’s cool to be part of it and be part of the process,” she said. Senior Anthony Rivello said he plans to attend Ohio State University next fall.

“I’m blessed that both my parents have a job. Aid played a role in where I would attend college, but it wasn’t the deciding factor,” he said. “This was a tremendous opportunity for our school. It’s not every day the vice president is here. I think we should be proud and honored.”

Financial aid also will help determine where junior Jenny Huynh will attend college, she said.

“If we could all go to our dream school, that would be ideal,” she said. “Anything that helps pay tuition plays a role into the decision. I’m looking all over, but my dream school is the University of Chicago. It’s hard to get into, but they do have a good financial-aid program.”

Parent Tremale Lanier-Keys said her son just received his first acceptance letter from the University of Cincinnati.

“I’m looking forward to him going to college,” she said. “(Financial aid) will be a factor.”

Senior Zach Teegardin said he was especially interested to hear about ways to finance college tuition, saying he hopes to study marine biology at Florida Southern College.

“My family has financial issues in paying for college,” he said. “I hope there are more options that can help.”