Columbia Public Schools Archives

Missouri AG threatens more lawsuits over mask mandates as schools work to contain COVID-19 surge

January 18, 2022 9:11 AM Molly Stawinoga, Matthew Sanders

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt says his office will file more lawsuits this week against school districts enforcing mask and quarantine…

Parents, students, teachers react to Columbia Public Schools adding extra teacher workdays due to COVID spread

January 14, 2022 6:33 PM Hannah Falcon

Columbia Public Schools canceled several days of classes in January and added two early release days in an effort to relieve pressure put on…

CPS students protested in favor of mask mandate

January 13, 2022 3:05 PM Erika McGuire

Students returned from winter break last week after the Columbia Board of Education voted for the mask mandate to end Jan. 4.…

Columbia, Jefferson City public schools reinstate mask mandates as coronavirus cases set records

January 13, 2022 1:37 PM Zachary Farwell, Chanel Porter, Matthew Sanders

Each district announced the changes in letters to parents and news releases…

School districts take steps to keep the doors open despite rising COVID-19 concerns

January 12, 2022 5:55 PM Chanel Porter

As COVID-19 continues to spread in schools across the nation, some locals are taking extra steps in order to keep students learning inside of the…

Columbia Board of Education votes to put $80 million bond issue on the April ballot

January 10, 2022 5:24 AM Meghan Drakas, ABC 17 News Team

At the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education meeting Monday night, the board members plan to vote on adding an $80 million bond issue to the…

Mid-Missouri schools move ahead with in-person learning as coronavirus surge sets records

January 10, 2022 11:51 AM Kennedy Miller

School is back in session for districts around Mid-Missouri, but the return to classrooms has coincided with a meteoric rise in new coronavirus…

FRIDAY UPDATES: Missouri DHSS reporting free at-home test kits delayed to Wednesday

January 7, 2022 2:27 PM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in…

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Columbia Public Schools bring back masks?

January 4, 2022 5:05 PM ABC 17 News Team

The county reported more than 300 new cases Tuesday, pushing active cases to nearly 1,300.…

CPS returns from winter break as petition to request vote on mask mandate gains attention

January 4, 2022 5:49 AM Zola Crowder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will return to the classroom Tuesday from winter break after the school district announced masks will no…

Columbia Public Schools roll out new coronavirus protocols

December 30, 2021 5:04 PM Matthew Sanders

The district will require those who test positive for coronavirus to stay home for five days or until symptoms resolve, following new guidance from…

Attorney general drops lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools mask mandate

December 30, 2021 10:48 AM Matthew Sanders

The case was dismissed at the agreement of both parties Thursday, according to online court records.…

Mid-Missouri schools try to assuage parent fears over non-specific TikTok rumors

December 17, 2021 11:47 AM Kennedy Miller

Reports of a TikTok video that challenges kids to send threats to their school on Friday emerged this week and quickly spread nationwide. Some…

Gasconade County school district to close Friday after TikTok threat challenge

December 16, 2021 4:28 PM Matthew Sanders

School districts across Mid-Missouri say they’ve been made aware of a trend on social media app TikTok that challenges kids to threaten their…

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you like Columbia Public Schools’ new coronavirus rules?

December 15, 2021 2:10 AM ABC 17 News Team

Students exposed to coronavirus will no longer have to stay out of school. Instead, only those who test positive for the virus or have symptoms will…

Coronavirus quarantine changes for Columbia Public Schools start Jan. 4

December 14, 2021 11:48 AM Hannah Falcon

The board voted 4-3 on the new policy that will take effect when students return from winter break on Jan. 4. Only students with symptoms or a…

Columbia Board of Education briefed on $80 million bond issue to build new schools

December 14, 2021 9:15 AM Kennedy Miller

The $80 million bond question would appear on the April ballot if approved by the board. The board heard a presentation on the bond issue Monday…

CPS mask policy change goes into effect after winter break

December 14, 2021 6:26 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Monday night, the Columbia Board of Education voted to halt the mask mandate for the school district, but the policy won’t go…

Question of the day: Did the Columbia school board make the right decision by removing the COVID mask policy?

December 14, 2021 2:03 AM ABC 17 News Team

The Columbia Board of Education voted Monday night to end the COVID-19 mask policy effective Jan. 4. Some parents expressed their opinions in favor…

Columbia Board of Education votes to remove COVID mask policy

December 13, 2021 5:46 AM Meghan Drakas, Leila Mitchell

Board members are set to review the plan at Monday night’s meeting at the Aslin Administration building off of Worley Street.…