Students in two of Northern Kentucky's largest public school districts will return to the classrooms Monday, marking the end of summer fun and the start of a new school year filled with high hopes and expectations.

        Nearly 20,000 students will file through the doors of Boone County Schools and Covington Independent Schools.

        “This is going to be a great school year for us. We've got a number of new initiatives in teaching and learning and academia,” said Bryan Blavatt, who is beginning his sixth year as superintendent of Boone County Schools.

        When he took over the schools' top job, the district had 11,500 students compared with nearly 14,000 students enrolled today in the state's third-largest district.

        In Covington, much of the attention over the summer has been placed on making sure the 350 students at Glenn O. Swing can return to their one-story building. An explosion that ignited a fire at the school June 6 occurred as two Cinergy workers were repairing a gas meter.

        Students will be housed in the undamaged part of the school, as the burned-down section is rebuilt.

        An open house is being held at 4 p.m. today at Glenn O. Swing so parents can see some of the renovations.

Danger in the X
Emergency readiness uncertain
Black Family Reunion a chance for city to heal
Crowds downtown get unruly
No cookie, but plenty of support
Colleges jazzing up dorms
Obituary: Evalyn Jean Tilford Claugus, history teacher
Tristate A.M. Report
UC lists phases of 9-11 activity
Virtual school plans overhaul
BRONSON: Budget blunder
CROWLEY: Political skinny
HOWARD: Some Good News
SMITH AMOS: Risky business
Flames help fire community support
Missing girls found two miles from camp
Social workers are in classrooms
Clinic found liable in death
N.Y. fair warned of carnival ride danger
Recent violence has sheriff wary of biker rally
Callahan backs House speaker
Ft. Mitchell tries to hang onto history
Law lets kids with asthma have inhalers
Schools have high hopes for new year