Pioneers Not Sheep — Kirkwood, Missouri

Pioneers Not Sheep

Kirkwood, Missouri · A Community Campaign

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What We Want

Published, objective criteria for school closures — tied to NWS snowfall data, not neighboring-district decisions. A high bar that closes school when conditions are genuinely unsafe.

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What We Don’t Want

We do not want reckless decisions. We do not want students on icy roads during legitimate emergencies. We are not asking KSD to be foolish — we are asking it to stop being timid.

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The Pioneer Standard

Kirkwood is built on excellence and high expectations. That identity should extend to how the district responds to manageable difficulty. Pioneers are brave trail blazers. When conditions are inconvenient, Pioneers show up!

Latest May 4, 2026 · Webster-Kirkwood Times · Opinion / Letters

District Should Be Led By a Pioneer, Not a Sheep

The Kirkwood School District — and most others in the area — released students early on April 26 due to the threat of severe weather, the latest in a pattern of closures that goes well beyond what weather conditions warrant. The district’s calling card should be that it shows up when others do not — not that it follows the most cautious decision-maker in St. Louis County.

Webster-Kirkwood Times

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Earlier Coverage

Opinion March 3, 2025 · Webster-Kirkwood Times · Letters to the Editor

Snow Days & Teaching Kids a Lesson in Adversity

The Kirkwood School District had seven snow days in the last two months of winter. While some were justified, February brought three closures for a total of just 3 inches of snow — and with them, a missed opportunity to teach students how to confront adversity. By canceling school at the first trace of snow, the district robs students of valuable life lessons: planning for a longer commute, communicating about alternatives, adapting when things don’t go as expected.

Webster-Kirkwood Times

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In the News