Kansas University

Helicopter to fly low over Lawrence campus

A helicopter will fly low Friday over the Kansas University campus.

The overflights are scheduled to allow for aerial photographs to be taken of the campus, the KU Office of University Relations said.

Education

Book policy eludes Baldwin school board

Baldwin — The Baldwin school board adjourned its Monday night meeting about 1 a.m. Tuesday without deciding on a policy for handling complaints about curriculum.

The board is trying to come up with a new policy and went over its latest proposal in detail Monday night. The board will meet again at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Baldwin Junior High School.

The policy review began a few weeks ago after Supt. James White stopped use of a book in a Baldwin High School class after receiving a parent’s complaint about it. The book was “We All Fall Down,” by Robert Cormier.

Some board members have said they don’t want one person making a decision to remove a book from class.

Legislature

Baldwin legislator to sit on education panel

Topeka — State Rep. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin, has been appointed to the House Education Committee.

Holland said he looked forward to working on public school issues, and noted that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would make recommendations on school finance in the upcoming legislative session.

“I’m just very pleased” about being put on the committee, said Holland, whose district includes parts of southern Lawrence, Baldwin, northern Ottawa and Wellsville.

House Democratic Leader Dennis McKinney of Greensburg appointed Holland to the panel to replace state Rep. Ethel Peterson, D-Dodge City, who has announced her retirement.

Public education

School board members revisit closing decisions

Lawrence school board members Rich Minder and Leonard Ortiz are pushing for reconsideration of the district’s closure of Centennial School.

“I am one who has wondered about this decision,” Minder said.

Minder and Ortiz both joined the school board in July. That was two months after the board closed Centennial, East Heights and Riverside schools.

During the comment segment of Monday night’s board meeting, they urged the district to reopen the decision to keep open Cordley, 1837 Vt., and shut down Centennial, 2145 La.

Ortiz called the matter “unresolved,” and indicated a better choice would have been to consolidate Cordley.

Minder said he someday might accept that Centennial’s closure made sense. But not yet.

“I haven’t gotten to that point,” he said.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found Lawrence-area gasoline prices as low as $1.39 at the Amoco at 914 Iowa.

If you find a lower price, call 832-7154.