COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A report of shots being heard put five Columbia Public Schools buildings on secure status Thursday in south Columbia. Columbia police spokesperson Colin Imhoff told ABC 17 News that officers responded to a report of shots heard around 12:30 p.m. around Southampton Drive. Officers did not find evidence of any gunshots being
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two Mile Prairie Elementary School will become a lottery school beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the Columbia Board of Education decided during Monday night’s meeting. Meeting documents show the lottery system will only apply to “entry-level grades” including one kindergarten classroom and a number of seats in first grade. Students within
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved new language that clarifies what is a considered a weapon in its school district. The meeting agenda says the Missouri School Boards’ Association updated its own policy to comply with Senate Bill 68, which passed last year and states districts must report all
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former West Middle School teacher who was charged with several child sex crimes last month was given a home-detention order after he received a bond. Zachary Hutchinson, 38, of Columbia, was charged on Jan. 21 in Boone County with three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, one count of child enticement, sexually
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Both parties in a lawsuit over charter school applications in Boone County asked a judge on Friday to vacate a hearing next week after Saint Louis University rescinded its application for Frontier Schools. Columbia Public Schools filed a lawsuit last month, claiming the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The state of Missouri this week asked a Cole County judge to dismiss a case filed by Columbia Public Schools over charter school applications. The state filed its motion to dismiss on Tuesday and asked the judge to hold all proceedings in the case until a ruling is reached on the motion.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former employee of Columbia Public Schools has been arrested on suspicion of multiple child sex crimes, according to a social media post from the Columbia Police Department. CPD wrote that officers on Wednesday arrested Zachary Hutchinson, 38, of Columbia. He was charged on Wednesday with three counts of second-degree statutory
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Sophia Danh attends Hickman High School in Columbia as a freshman, and goes to class alongside her usual classmates. But she said there’s a feeling of uncertainty that lingers in her mind from time to time. Danh said her parents are immigrants, and though most of her family are citizens but it
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Parks and Recreation Commission will discuss a recently approved family reunification agreement at its Thursday night meeting. The City of Columbia approved the agreement with Columbia Public Schools at its Jan. 5 City Council meeting. The agreement – which runs through June 30 – stats that students can go to
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education unanimously passed its new policy on artificial intelligence. The policy focuses on “generative AI,” which creates text, images, videos and other media. The new policy set forth by the Missouri School Boards’ Association says that the district must have an AI coordinator, who will monitor advancements, risks
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Tuesday was the deadline to file in non-charter city elections around the state for the spring. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7. The last day to register to vote is March 11. The certification date for candidates is Jan. 27. Jefferson City Council Two seats on the Jefferson City Council will be
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Editor’s note, 12/30/2025: The story has corrected information on the Jefferson City School District’s candidate filing deadlines. COLUMBIA, Mo. Candidates for most local elections in April 2026 must file by 5 p.m. Tuesday, including races for the Columbia Board of Education and city council seats in Jefferson City. In Columbia, filing is closing for the
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Editor’s note: A paragraph previously referencing another education organization has been corrected to reflect that the proposal was passed by the Columbia Board of Education. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri state lawmaker is pursuing legislation aimed at limiting superintendent payouts and protecting taxpayers, building on a proposal originally put forward by Columbia Public Schools. State
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools has determined how it will spend some of the $9 million it received from Boone County after a property-tax settlement with Ameren Missouri. The county reached a resolution earlier this year in a long-running dispute before the Missouri State Tax Commission. The agreement resolved litigation over property taxes owed
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Safety and a strong learning environment is a top priority for Columbia Public Schools’ new Eagle Bluffs Elementary. The district broke ground on the project in the spring of 2024 and remains on track to be completed by fall 2026. The new two-story, $36 million facility will span 76,500 square feet and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools filed a lawsuit Monday that claims the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional, with district leaders talking to reporters about the issue in a news conference afterward. The lawsuit names the state attorney general and the Missouri State Board of Education. It focuses on one of
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A climate survey from Columbia Public Schools shows some students are worried about equality. About 65% of students who completed the survey say bullying is not tolerated, but that enforcement was not consistent. That opinion came up again in the discipline category. Only 53% of students feel that the district’s rules
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Steve Tubbesing sits in his office on Brown Station Road in Columbia roughly four months after he and his family experienced what he called a “nightmare” with a newly found mindset. Tubbesing is the grandfather to 11-and 8-year-old children who attend Jefferson Middle School and Ridgeway Elementary. Two days into the school year,
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Three incumbents on the Columbia Board of Education will seek reelection, according to a joint press release sent by the members on Wednesday. The release says Board President John Lyman, Vice President Paul Harper and Board Member April Ferrao will file for reelection next month. Filing for the positions will be open
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The Columbia Public School administration is asking the School Board on Monday to approve an $11,000 contract to implement a new AI system on the district’s website.
If approved, Betty AI or Betty Bot will be added to the website as a new chat feature for users, according to CPS documents. Users will be able to ask Betty Bot questions and find information.
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