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Columbia Public Schools

CPS to pay Yearwood more than $667,000 in contract buyout

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The outgoing superintendent at Columbia Public Schools will receive a payout worth two-thirds of a million dollars. CPS confirmed on Friday that Superintendent Brian Yearwood would step down immediately to retire. According to a separation agreement between Yearwood and the school district, Yearwood will receive $667,268.90 on Jan. 1. The agreement says

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Columbia Public Schools improves in key areas on state report card

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools made critical gains in key academic measures between 2023 and 2024 in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Annual Performance Report. CPS received 86.5% of the possible points in this year’s report, which combines performance and improvement scores from the 2023-2024 school year. The district received a score

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Columbia Public Schools superintendent to retire months after announcing cancer diagnosis

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The top administrator in Columbia Public Schools plans to retire. CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark wrote in a statement Friday that Brian Yearwood has decided to step down immediately to spend time with family in Texas. The Columbia Board of Education unanimously accepted his retirement request. Former superintendent Chris Belcher has agreed to

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Social media posts about school threats not credible, Columbia Public Schools email to parents says

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ Recent social media posts referencing possible threats to Columbia schools are not credible, the school district wrote in a Thursday night email to parents. Rumors spread Thursday night about possible threats to some school campuses in Columbia. “We’re reaching out to ask for your help and support. Over the last several days,

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Teachers union: 225 CPS employees did not receive stipend for summer duties; district aiming to make payments by Friday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is working to pay some of its employees for summer duties by Friday. According to the district, the delay in payments was due to paperwork not being submitting on time. CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said employees who submitted their information after the payroll deadline will receive their stipend in

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Educators hope new Boone County Nature School will enhance CPS curriculum

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools and the Missouri Department of Conservation cut the ribbon to officially open the Boone County Nature School on Friday.   The new school will serve fifth-grade students from all six Boone County school districts through unique “place-based” education as well as the public through special conservation-related programming.  According to CPS

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New weapons detection system, visitor scanning system, fewer bus routes highlight first day of school for Columbia students

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools students returned to class Tuesday for the new school year. There were 18,838 students enrolled on Tuesday, according to an unofficial number provided by CPS later in the day. The official enrollment number is computed on the last Wednesday of September, an email from the district stated. With the

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