Kingston K-14 Schools to Close for Election Day Due to High Voter Turnout

Washington Co., Mo. (KFMO) - The Kingston K-14 School District has announced that all classes will be canceled on Tuesday, November 5th, as the campus serves as a polling location for the upcoming election. The decision comes in response to a projected 70-75% voter turnout in Washington County, which could mean an additional 700-800 people on campus throughout the day.

In a letter to Cougar families and staff, Superintendent Dr. Mike Golden explained the need for the closure, emphasizing safety concerns and the potential disruption to regular school operations. While the school has remained open for previous elections with lower turnout, the expected increase in voters for this election led the district to reconsider.

Dr. Golden detailed the following adjustments for the day:

No school will be held, and Cougar College will also be canceled. The day will be treated as a "snow day."
Voting will take place in the transportation department facility.
Some school practices or activities may still occur, with coaches or sponsors providing specific information to students.
The need to make up the day will be evaluated later in the year, depending on the number of snow days or other closures.
While the closure may cause some inconvenience, Dr. Golden encouraged all eligible community members to participate in the election. “Voting is a critical part of our democracy, and we are proud to support this effort by providing a safe and accessible polling site for our community,” he stated.

The district will provide updates regarding any potential makeup day if required by the school calendar.