DAYTON, Ky. - Five-year-old Danielle Bradford will lace her new Powerpuff Girls sneakers this morning and head off to kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School.

        Even as the heat continues to swelter in the Tristate, three Northern Kentucky school districts - Dayton Independent, Campbell County and Silver Grove - are starting school this week.

        This is the first year Dayton and Campbell County are following an alternative calendar, which will have students in school for nine to 10 weeks at a time, with one to two weeks off in between. Silver Grove has been using the alternative calendar for the past two years.

        Danielle Bradford's mother Beverly Bradford, 47, said she is happy with the new calendar because her daughter is already bored with summer.

        “I would have her in school year-round if I could because there is nothing for her to do,” Ms. Bradford said.

        Most other Northern Kentucky schools start in mid-August. Kenton County School District won't begin until Aug. 28 because of renovations at Dixie Heights and Simon Kenton high schools.

        School administrators say the alternative calendar is ideal because a fall, winter and spring break will keep students more refreshed and interested. A shorter summer also means teachers won't have to spend as much time re-teaching material students usually forget during the long summer break.

        Silver Grove School Board Chairman Robert Dozier said the alternative calendar has been working better than the traditional calendar.

        Dayton Independent School Board Chairman Mike Carr said a committee of principals, teachers, parents and students found that schools that follow the alternative calendar generally have better attendance and fewer dropouts. The calendar allows for up to two weeks off in the spring, which can be used to help bring failing students up to par, he said.

        Mr. Carr said a survey of parents, teachers and students conducted by the school showed people were overwhelmingly in favor of trying the alternative calendar for a two-year test period, Mr. Carr said.

        “What we found out is, students and teachers both said they love the breaks,” he said.

        Many parents, including Mr. Carr, are considering using the fall break in October to take vacations, he said.

        Mr. Carr said his only concern is getting students' full attention during these hot and sunny days of summer.

        The elementary and high school buildings were equipped with air conditioning about five years ago when administrators believed the state was going to mandate the alternative calendar in all Kentucky schools, Mr. Carr said.

        Campbell County School Board member Chuck Eifert, a Campbell school board member, said parents in his district are skeptical about the new calendar, but he believes they will like it after the trial period.

        “We're just trying to improve our class time and our grades,” he said.

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