KCKPS students and parents react to storm damage, canceled classes Wednesday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.

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Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools canceled school Wednesday due to power outages and hazardous road conditions.

The district notified parents via social media posts.

Shortly before 11 a.m., a district spokesperson told KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson that at least "a dozen or more" buildings, including the district and north central offices, were without power Wednesday morning.

The spokesperson also said roads were one of the biggest factors for the closure, as trees were blocking bus routes. The northeast area of the district appeared to be hit hardest.

KSHB 41’s Rachel Henderson spent Wednesday talking with parents and students in the district, some of whom said they found out about closures through their bus drivers or social media.

Schlagle High School juniors Diamond Penix and Jaleah Braden recall hearing loud noises at 1:30 a.m.

“It was just a lot,” Penix said. “All the power went out. TV cut out, it was just kinda scary.”

The street in front of Penix’s house is completely covered in debris, but her driveway was clear.

“I’m grateful it fell that way and not on our house,” Penix said.

John Batten/KSHB 41

They said while it is only the second week back, they are relieved they didn’t have classes Wednesday.

“I had math class, I didn’t want to go,” Braden laughed.

Just a few minutes away near 55th and Leavenworth road lives the Sierra family.

Joseph and Gaby Sierra have two children in the USD 500 district.

John Batten/KSHB 41

“They sent us a text message,” Gaby Sierra said.

Not all families found out the same way.

“We were getting ready to walk out and a bus stopped and said, ‘Go back inside, stay inside, there’s no school,’ then the message came through, so it was just kind of shocking,” Penix said.

The Sierras live with multiple relatives and said they all hid in the basement when they heard the storms early Wednesday morning.

“All my kids are alright, my husband’s okay and my parents are alright, so we’re gonna be okay,” Gaby Sierra said.

Their children attend Douglass Elementary School and Bethel Early Childhood Center.

They said their daughter was already off Wednesday at Bethel.

“Our son, he has autism, so it’s rough when he doesn’t have power,” Joseph Sierra said. “He’s prone to irritation when it’s really hot.”

The off day came as a relief, but also meant juggling multiple tasks, including cleaning up damage to their home and backyard.

John Batten/KSHB 41

“Patio furniture and all that’s gone. It’s whatever, it can be replaced, just happy nobody got hurt,” Joseph Sierra said.

As overnight storms rolled through the metro, numerous power outages were reported, and trees and power lines were downed. Some extensive damage was also reported near 21st and Quindaro.

KCKPS said some power was restored to buildings Wednesday, but power outages were still impacting the district's operations.

The district announced Wednesday night that schools would be closed again Thursday.

The Piper School District also announced that some bus routes may have experienced delays Wednesday morning due to the storms, as drivers navigated downed trees and other storm-related damage along their routes.

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