Governor Applauds First Group of 'A+' Pioneers

Kirkwood High School welcomed an honored guest through its doors on Thursday. Governor Jay Nixon visited the school to congratulate the first class of seniors from KHS to graduate as candidates for the A+ program.

The A+ program guarantee's full cost of tuition and books to any technical college or two-year institution for qualified seniors. KHS officially earned their A+ designation this year. More than 100 seniors will graduate KHS as A+ students.

"I want to be clear that public education is not a political policy," Nixon said. "It is a value, and one that the state needs to support absolutely."

Nixon toured the school briefly with KHS Principal Dave Holley. After speaking at engineering and social studies classrooms, Nixon and his entourage stopped in the library, where he addressed a crowd of students about the importance of public education in his office.

"To put it quiet frankly, this is a remarkable school in a remarkable district," Nixon said, addressing the 84 percent of KHS students who continue on to college, well above the 60 percent statewide goal.

Nixon said programs like A+ provide opportunities that would otherwise go unused, and that tapping into more resources for education will revitalize the entire state.

"There are more dollars in student loan debt than credit card debt in this nation," Nixon said. "Here in Missouri, we can change that. Let's get started."