Columbia Board of Education set to meet Monday evening

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools will be holding one of its final Board of Education meetings of the school year Monday.

There are several items listed on the agenda, but some of the biggest topics of discussion will be the attendance areas. Attendance area changes have been a big topic of conversation for several months with school leaders considering a number of factors.

They have considered the future growth of neighborhoods, walkable and bikeable ways to school and how much time a student spends traveling to school.

 Phase 1 of the plans were approved on April 17, which addressed the expansions at Russell Boulevard Elementary.

Phase 2 focuses on filling in the new addition at Battle Elementary School after adding a new wing, allowing room for more students. Phase 3 looks at filling in the new Southwest Elementary School. 

The Board is scheduled to vote on phase 2 and phase on July 8 and would go into effect in the 2025-2026 school year.

The Administration will also be looking for the Board's approval to adopt next year's budget plan.

According to the meetings agenda, the operating budget will provide over $177,000 of excess revenues over expenditures. The districts budget priorities include improved compensation for employees, support growing social-emotional needs for all students and more.

This Board of Education meeting will be open to the public 6:30 p.m. Monday at Columbia Public School's Aslin Administration building.