PRICE HILL - The first of several community meetings to plan for the design and development of Whittier Elementary, 945 Hawthorne Ave., will be 6 p.m. April 1. A Cincinnati Public Schools facilities department representative will discuss the construction process, and the public will be asked to share ideas for the school.

Whittier Elementary will also serve as a community learning center, which is designed to raise student achievement, encourage community participation and opportunities, and contribute to the healthy development of neighborhoods.

Northwest celebrates, honors Dr. Seuss

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - The Northwest Association of Educators is sponsoring a community "read-in" 7-8 p.m. Monday at the Colerain Township Community Center, 4300 Springdale Road.

The free event celebrates the 100th birthday of Dr. Seuss and the end of March proficiency testing and will feature a celebrity guest and The Cat in the Hat. Designed to promote literacy, the event is open to all children in the Northwest Local School District and their families. Children are asked to bring a small blanket or floor pillow to sit on. Volunteers and book donations are welcome.

To volunteer, call Phyllis Bell, 741-5023.

10 small schools at W. Clermont fair

UNION TOWNSHIP - A small schools fair will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday at the Holiday Inn Eastgate, 4501 Eastgate Blvd., for eighth-grade students in West Clermont Local School District. The fair will be an opportunity for parents and students to talk with representatives from each of the 10 small schools. Students can also register that evening for their school of choice.

Information: 943-5000.

Clay-molding lesson at Tichenor Middle

ERLANGER - Families are invited to a free clay-molding lesson at Tichenor Middle School's Youth Service Center, 305 Bartlett Ave, 7-9 p.m. Tuesday. Art instructor Nancy Vagedes will guide everyone in molding pieces, which will be fired in a kiln. Participants will return to paint the pieces at a later date. Reservations: (859) 342-2426.

Lakota students lobby for courses

LIBERTY TWP. - Several students taking advanced placement courses at Lakota West and East high schools asked the school board not to cancel the classes as part of the district's cost-reduction package.

The district is looking at cuts of up to $6.5 million for the 2004-05 school year after the defeat of a March 2 combination levy that would have provided $21 million for day-to-day operations.

Superintendent Kathleen Klink said administrators were talking about imposing a minimum of 22 students per class - higher than the enrollment in many advanced placement courses - but no decision had been made.

Sign up today for Tourette seminar

MASON - Today is the deadline to sign up for a free one-hour presentation on Tourette syndrome, scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Monday, at Mason Intermediate School, 715 S. Mason-Montgomery Road.

Nancy McDonald, a board trustee of the Tourette Syndrome Association, will lead the seminar. To register, call 459-2868.

Karen Andrew

E-mail Clermont County and Hamilton County school news to ckranz@enquirer.com; Cincinnati Public and charter school news to jmrozowski@enquirer.com.