STANTON - Stanton, for years, has been the little school that could.

Now it can't any more, and after 125 years of operation, it'll close May 21.

For the past four years, only elementary school students have been educated there. This year, just 16 of those remain.

It's time, the community decided, to fold the elementary into the Center school, like the high school did under consolidation in 2004.

To celebrate a long and rich history and to say "farewell," Stanton's school will host a special program at 6 p.m. MDT May 15 at the Stanton school gym.

The kids will sing and play musical instruments, a school history and video will be presented and anyone who wants to share a story or a memory will be welcome to the open microphone.

Principal Kathy Bullinger said it's been an amicable consolidation with Center, and rather than only continuing two years after the initial consolidation, the Stanton elementary stayed open for four years.

Everyone knew it had to end sometime.

"The time has just come," she said.

The school year will end normally, with the John Schmitz Memorial Relays and awards to wrap things up.

On the last day, the kids will launch balloons in an "onward and upward" sort of gesture.

Next year, about half the students will go to Center and half over to Hazen, under open enrollment.

Bullinger said the three remaining teachers, secretary and cook will all transfer to Center.

That will end a period when many who were part of the school had a foot in two buildings and two communities.

"I'm looking forward to a normal year," Bullinger said.

The school building will become Stanton city property July 1, though the Stanton alumni will use it during the upcoming all-school reunion Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 in conjunction with Knife River Days.