BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- Latonia Elementary School reopens today after a three-week hiatus because of asbestos contamination.
The biggest changes students will notice aren't from the dusty mineral or the cleaning.
Nuances in classroom configurations and teaching styles -- experienced while classes were moved to Northern Kentucky University's Covington campus -- are being implemented.
Teachers who experienced the benefits of team teaching in open spaces decided to continue in that philosophy.
Gina Ford and Donna Wagner liked the concept so much they spent Tuesday at Latonia, tearing down the divider between their rooms.
"With two teachers working together, one can be at the front of the room while the other can walk around and offer help to the students that need it," Ms. Wagner said. "It'll take some getting used to. I like my space."
Ms. Ford said the students know to expect something new when they walk into school today.
The two classes will be mixed now, with students from both sitting together and each teacher helping all the children.
And students in all classes will surely notice the beige-colored metal tracks installed in the building's ceiling on the first and second floor. Those tracks were to hold Internet wiring. When asbestos was loosened during the installation process, the project was put on hold until the summer.
Students and parents got their first look at the asbestos-free school Tuesday night at an open house and ribbon-cutting celebration. The Holmes Marching Band played on the front lawn. A big red ribbon, cut by Student Council President Tim Sholar, wrapped the front entrance in a warm hug.
"We have our school back," Superintendent James Kemp said. The doors opened and children, with their families in tow, headed to see their classes and teachers.
The school will ask the board of education and the state for permission to add an extra hour and 15 minutes to each Friday starting Nov. 5 to make up the five days students missed. Usually, Latonia dismisses early on Friday.
None of that matters much to fifth-grader Chris Fukano. He headed straight to Eileen Gaston's room to check out his desk. He wanted to put all the books and pencils back in their proper place.
"Everything looks clean," Chris said. "I wasn't worried. I'm just so glad to be back."
Chris' dad, Rick, said he was pleased with the way the school handled the situation.
"Chris was so excited to be at the college, and now he's so excited to be back," he said.
There are other benefits to coming back, too. Students started dressing up for school, claiming they wanted to look nice for "college." And students got an introduction at a young age to the importance of higher education. They were able to incorporate the view at the NKU campus into an art lesson.
Those pictures of the Cincinnati skyline, complete with the Goodyear blimp floating by, are hanging outside Ms. Gaston's classroom. Nathan Edmondson and Todd Morgan, both fourth-graders, said they can't wait to get back to their schedules.
"I love this school," Nathan said. "I would never leave it." Welcome back, Latonia Elementary
