BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- The goodbyes and tears flowed all week between teachers and students at Fourth District Elementary School in preparation for today. It's the last day of school ever in this institution thousands have called home from kindergarten through sixth grade.
"We've been telling our teachers we'll miss them and they keep crying," fifth-grader Ara Englemon said Thursday after school. "We're all going to miss this place."
The Covington school board voted Monday to close Fourth District Elementary and send its 370 students to three other schools.
Superintendent James Kemp said a study of classroom space, needs and programs determined Covington did not need seven elementary buildings.
The district also needs a place to house alternative education programs for students who need extra help. The Fourth District building will meet that need next year.
But all thoughts Thursday were on good memories and the sadness of leaving behind Fourth District.
Parents posed their children with their best friends under the school's sign, preserving the moment on film.
Sixth-graders, freshly graduated and still dressed in their bright orange caps and gowns, paraded back and forth before the building, giving hugs, signing autograph books and taking more pictures.
"It's going to be real hard next year," parent Deneen Poteet said. "I've got three here and my littlest one was excited to start here in the fall, but now she'll have to go somewhere else."
The district plans to send Fourth District students to First District, Sixth District and Glenn O. Swing elementary schools. Assistant Principal Ralph Rose said the last days of school have been very emotional.
"It's been really difficult on everyone," he said as he waved goodbye to students and helped others catch their bus.
As the last few stragglers were picked up by their parents or made their way home, crossing guard Jim Feeney escorted the last bunch of students across 15th Street.
"I'm going to miss these kids," said Mr. Feeney, 60. "I'll be here in the same place next year, but they'll be a different group. These little ones seem to like me because I tell them it's "chop-chop and hubba-hubba' to get them going across the road, and they never heard that before so they always laugh." "We've been telling our teachers we'll miss them and they keep crying. We're all going to miss this place.' -- 5th-grader Ara Englemon
