Elections will take place in all 14 districts in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties. In most, voters will choose among candidates. Only in Dayton, Ludlow, Silver Grove and Kenton County are there no choices, because the number of candidates equals the number of open seats.

"In Campbell County, I think the uproar has not completely died down from the things (former superintendent) Roger Brady and the board did two years ago," said retired teacher Rich Mason, who is running for a board seat.

At the time, Campbell was reeling over Brady's decisions to replace four coaches at Campbell County High School, demote the principal of A.J. Jolly Elementary and close the tiny school by next fall.

In Newport and Covington, low test scores are the top issue. Some candidates are touting new approaches, such as year-round schooling in Covington and a merger of the middle and elementary schools in Newport.

Property taxes are hot in Fort Thomas, where an 11 percent increase was approved by the board and narrowly endorsed by voters last year. One candidate, Karen Allen, is a longtime volunteer in the district. She supported the tax, which went toward teacher raises, as a way to retain top educators.

Also running is Jim Kidney, a lawyer and tax opponent, as well as incumbent Nancy Johnson Baker.

In Walton-Verona, two incumbents are being challenged by Jim Carmichael, a real-estate agent whose daughter has dyslexia.

He sends her to private school, he says, because the district's services for such children are inadequate - an issue he says would be addressed if he is elected.

E-mail kgutierrez@enquirer.com