Schools

MRH School Board Protests QuikTrip Move in New Letter

The board lists permanently blocking Martini Drive and a building a new road through to Big Bend Boulevard as concerns.

A letter the Maplewood Richmond Heights Board of Education sent to MRH parents on Dec. 17 was also sent to Patch. The letter, signed by the board members, outlines their opposition to QuikTrip relocating to the corner by the school. Following, is the complete letter.

Dear MRH Family:

Thank you to all of our parents and community members for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us regarding the relocation of QuikTrip to the corner of Big Bend and Manchester. Because of these many heartfelt and extensive discussions, we shared our collective concerns with the City of Maplewood and QuikTrip, and offered compromises to make this development safer for our children. Our primary concerns have always been maintaining a safe area around our Middle/High School and minimizing the traffic impact to our neighbors around the campus. 

Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On November 27, 2012, the Maplewood City Council gave final approval to the QuikTrip relocation. Some of the items from the community and school district were incorporated in the ordinance including working with St. Louis County and MoDOT for increased traffic signage, new sidewalks with safety bollards, and partial funding for a crossing guard at Big Bend and Manchester. However, other items cause us concern:

  • Erecting a permanent barrier across Martini Drive at the northern property line of QuikTrip and permanently closing the road will impede pedestrian, vehicular, and emergency access to the campus. Additionally, it will eliminate the bus loading/unloading area, as well as truck access to our dock area.
  • Purchasing the property at 2547 Big Bend by QuikTrip to create a new road between Big Bend and Martini will force all traffic into one small area of our campus.  This new roadway is being planned without input from our neighborhood residents or a comprehensive traffic/safety impact study.

Please know we will do everything we can to keep our campus safe for our students, and our neighborhoods secure for our residents. To keep you informed, we want to make you aware that an independent group of Maplewood residents have joined together with the goal of placing a referendum on the ballot in the next Maplewood election.  If passed, this referendum would repeal the Council’s ordinance.  If you wish to learn more about the referendum, you may contact Tonya Powell at (314) 520-8375 or tpowell63143@gmail.com.

Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The primary focus of the MRH School District has always been, and continues to be, the education, safety, and well-being our children.  We are resolute in providing our children a top education, achieving greater successes for our district, creating closer bonds with our parents and neighbors, supporting our businesses, and making our community a better place for us all.

Also in Patch:

  • MRH parent and member of the group opposing the move, Tonya Powel, posted a local voices blog post on Patch that lists her concerns.
  • The MRH school board first sent a letter to parents protesting the move on March 31.
  • Maplewood Ward 3 Councilman Barry Greenberg supports the move in a letter to the editor.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Maplewood-Brentwood