Grant School closing celebration seeks fireworks permit

Bottom Line

Douglas County commissioners will be asked to let Grant School go “out with a bang” May 24, the last day of school.

Commissioners will consider granting permission for a fireworks display at the school, which is closing for good after 40 years at 1853 E. 1600 Road.

The display would come at the end of a community celebration, which already is set to include an open house, sixth-grade graduation ceremony, potluck dinner and entertainment. Party organizers said that Marvin Pine would provide the small display, which would be staged “a safe distance from partygoers.”

Background

Citing declining enrollment, members of the Lawrence school board voted in October to close Grant School at the end of the academic year.

The school opened in 1962 on property leased by Grant School District No. 100 from the Kansas University Endowment Association.

The school was established after the consolidation of Bismarck, Burnett and White schools. Grant joined the Lawrence school district in 1966, and the Lawrence district bought the property from the endowment association in 1968.

Current Grant students are surveying former students and staff members of the school for their memories, which will be displayed during the May 24 open house.

Other business

 Proclaim Monday through Sunday as Public Health Week.

 Proclaim April as Fair Housing Month.

 Approve commission orders.

 Approve 16 out-of-district tuition payments to community colleges for a total of $115,422.s

 Approve purchase of a John Deere 5420 tractor and a Rhino TX165 flex-wing finishing mower for $11,932 from Deems Farm Equipment, Lawrence. The price includes the savings from trading in another tractor.

 Approve retirement of Baloo, a drug-detection and suspect-apprehension dog for the Douglas County Sheriff Office, and his subsequent adoption by his handler, Cpl. Gayland Guinn.

 Consider approval of resolution ordering the county counselor to institute a judicial tax foreclosure action in Douglas County District Court, as requested by Pat Wells, county treasurer.

 Consider request from Grant Four Decades Celebration Planning Committee for a fireworks display to celebrate the May 24 closing of Grant School.

 Discuss proposed removal of the “minimum maintenance” designation of North 175 Road, between East 2031 and East 2050 roads, as requested by the board of trustees for Palmyra Township.