By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – 
Officials with the St. Louis Public Schools are making final preparations to welcome the district's 38,000 students back to class.
Children have to report Monday, September 7, well after most other districts in the area have started.
After a contentious school year in 2003-4, the district hopes to turn the corner. Officials are implementing several changes they hope will translate to improved academic achievement.
But some critics still say the district is doing little to solve its core problem.
KWMU's Kevin Lavery prepared this report.