This story was written by Lia Salvatierra, our new Education Reporter. Find more of Lia’s reporting here. Do you have an NKY education story? Email lsalvatierra@linknky.com.
Renovations at six Kenton County elementary schools are moving forward, with three projects expected to wrap up in the coming months as the district enters the final stretch of its four-year facilities plan.
Six of the district’s 10 elementary schools are currently under construction as part of a 2023-2027 facilities plan, which includes upgrades to all the district’s 17 schools. It also includes the construction of a new central office for Kenton County School District.
Chief Operations Officer Matt Rigg told LINK nky the district is on track to fulfill the entire facilities plan. “The big thing is to provide a world-class education, and you have to have world-class facilities,” Rigg said.
Newport-based architecture firm Emboss Design submitted progress reports to the Kenton County School Board for its Sept. 8 meeting on current elementary school renovations.
Updates are also available on a dashboard on the district’s website.
River Ridge Elementary
Started March 2026, scheduled to finish August 2026
Construction of a parking loop and parking lot at River Ridge Elementary is mostly complete, with final touches running behind schedule.
The parking loop should fit 150 cars, and the parking lot should fit 90 cars. Those renovations aimed to ease unsafe congestion along Amsterdam Road during school pick-up and drop-off.
That work cost more than $4.8 million, which the district is financing through bonds. According to information available on the district dashboard, the project is 93.8% complete as of Sept. 9.
R.C. Hinsdale Elementary
Started May 2025, finishing December 2026
A two-phase renovation project at R.C. Hinsdale Elementary, including a building addition, is nearly 90% complete, according to district records. The building addition includes a new art classroom, a conference room, a student health room, a staff office and an entryway.
Second phase upgrades included the new main entrance and reception area. The building also received acoustic ceiling panels and new flooring. The full project also included an expanded parking lot and HVAC and roofing upgrades.
Renovations came with an anticipated price tag of $26.4 million for both phases, according to preliminary district documents.
White’s Tower Elementary
Started May 2025, finishing December 2026
An interior remodel at White’s Tower Elementary, including HVAC and roofing upgrades, is scheduled to finish in December. Interior renovations also included upgrades to the school’s general office. The project, budgeted at $13 million, according to Rigg, also included exterior work on the rear parking lot and new outdoor canopies.
Ryland Heights Elementary
Started March 2026, finishing August 2027
An interior remodel including HVAC and roofing upgrades at Ryland Heights Elementary is scheduled for completion in August 2027.
The project included many structural upgrades, including lighting, plumbing and work on the school’s lagoon sewage system. Other items included classroom furnishings, such as cubbies and window shades, and kitchen equipment.
Renovations were budgeted for $11.7 million at the end of 2025, according to district documents. Rising construction costs increased that amount to nearly $13 million, which the district is also financing through bonds.
Kenton Elementary
Started June 2026, finishing August 2027 and December 2027
An interior remodel of Kenton Elementary, including HVAC and roofing upgrades and other structural updates, is also scheduled to finish in August 2027. Renovations also included bathroom updates and classroom furnishings, such as cubbies and window shades.
According to Rigg, the school’s gymnasium remodel is scheduled for completion by the end of next year. Rigg said construction of the gym can’t begin until other renovations are complete because the gymnasium is currently housing displaced classrooms.
The full project is costing nearly $22.1 million, another sum the district is financing through bonds.
Taylor Mill Elementary
Started June 2026, finishing December 2027
Interior and exterior renovations began at Taylor Mill Elementary in June and are slated to finish at the end of 2027. Interior renovations focused on HVAC and roofing upgrades and furnishings for classrooms like cubbies.
Total costs were projected at $18.1 million but rose to $20.3 million because of rising construction costs, according to the district. The district is financing that sum through bonds.