Columbia Public Schools Archives

The Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services assistant director says outside counties are contributing to the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Boone.

FRIDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports three new coronavirus related deaths; 90 new cases

September 10, 2021 6:06 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back here for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri.

Coronavirus pandemic still creating need for more substitutes in Missouri schools

September 8, 2021 5:17 PM Hannah Falcon

Public schools in Missouri have been struggling to hire enough substitute teachers since the beginning of the pandemic.

Hundreds of Columbia Public School students quarantining

September 2, 2021 3:45 AM Ben Fein

Columbia Public Schools is reporting all four high schools, all seven middle schools and 17 out of 21 elementary schools currently have students out due to COVID-19.

Black Lives Matter signs’ removal from Columbia Public Schools elicits complaints

September 2, 2021 1:26 PM Leila Mitchell

CoMo for Progress sent out a letter and petition to members of the Columbia Board of Education, CPS Chief Equity Officer Carla London and Superintendent Brian Yearwood outlining their concerns with the BLM and Pride materials being taken down.

Coronavirus quarantines rise as students return to classrooms

August 30, 2021 11:58 AM Lucas Geisler

Quarantines have gone up in school districts due to people testing positive for COVID-19 or for exposure to it. Columbia Public Schools reported 117 students and five workers in either isolation or quarantine on Monday. Jefferson City School District reported seven active student cases and four active staff cases, with a close contact in each category.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support the Missouri AG’s lawsuit against school mask mandates?

August 30, 2021 3:55 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has named Columbia Public Schools in a class-action lawsuit meant to ban districts’ mask mandates statewide.

Doctor: Pandemic’s mental health toll on kids continues as school starts again

August 26, 2021 2:08 AM Ben Fein

Dr. Laine Young-Walker, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with MU Health Care, spoke to ABC 17 News about kids’ mental health amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the return to the classroom.

Columbia kinders head back to school Thursday as national enrollment surge is expected

August 26, 2021 5:24 AM Zola Crowder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools kindergartners start school Thursday in-seat and nationwide officials are expecting a surge in students this year. Some school districts across the United States even started hiring additional teachers in anticipation of one of the largest kindergarten classes ever. Across the country, many school districts saw significant drops in kindergarten

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent shines light on COVID protocols

August 24, 2021 8:00 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public School Superintendent Brian Yearwood answered important COVID-19 protocol questions for parents and students Tuesday. Columbia Public Schools will be requiring masks and social distancing when inside of school buildings. Superintendent Yearwood said the most important thing to the district is the safety of students and faculty. “This is the best

Missouri attorney general sues Columbia Public Schools over mask mandate

August 24, 2021 12:59 PM Matthew Sanders

Schmitt, a Republican who is also running for U.S. Senate, said in a news release Tuesday that Columbia Public School’s mask requirement for all students and staff is unreasonable because few children are infected with coronavirus. Schmitt also claims that wearing masks shows only a marginal benefit in fighting the spread of coronavirus.

Columbia Public Schools returns with COVID-19 precautions in place

August 24, 2021 4:37 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is set to return for the 2021-22 school year on Tuesday with multiple COVID-19 precautions in place. CPS is welcoming back close to 19,000 students and nearly 3,000 employees at their 42 buildings on Tuesday. Masks According to the district’s website, masks are required indoors for students, staff and

Teachers, parents and students prepare for the first day of school in Columbia

August 23, 2021 8:36 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public School students and parents are getting ready to return to learn Tuesday. A couple of school parents in Columbia say they feel safe knowing everyone has to wear masks at school buildings right now however a new school brings new challenges. Mackenzie Blakeman’s daughter starts sixth grade at Warner Middle

Columbia Public School parents protest mask requirement

August 21, 2021 8:15 PM Hannah Falcon

About 30 Columbia Public School parents met outside the Aslin Administration Building to protest CPS’s mask requirement for the upcoming school year.

Football fans will have to follow COVID precautions this fall

August 20, 2021 7:01 PM Hannah Falcon

Helmets, pads, jerseys and masks: football is back in Columbia, but COVID-19 never went away.

Columbia Public Schools cuts budget by nearly $6 million, citing court ruling

August 19, 2021 11:46 AM Hannah Falcon

The Columbia Public Schools Board of Education met Thursday morning to discuss how the tax cuts due to a court decision in Franklin County will affect the school district’s budget.

The Columbia Public School community is split over mask mandate

August 15, 2021 7:50 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public School parents, faculty, and staff are split over the decision to mandate masks for anyone in school buildings and on school buses. The mandate goes into effect on Monday. The district sent a letter to families on Friday announcing the decision (CPS coronavirus plan.) Denise Latorre, former CPS teacher said she

Jefferson City Schools to decide on mask requirements

August 15, 2021 4:56 AM Ben Fein

Jefferson City Schools are set to decide on mask requirements at schools, as the deadline to make the decision is set for Monday, according to the district’s return plan.

Columbia Public Schools may change mask requirements after the school year starts

August 13, 2021 4:11 PM Matthew Sanders

The district sent a letter to families on Friday announcing the decision.

Columbia Public Schools buses lined up as students and teachers return to full time in person classes.

Mid-Missouri school districts have not released mask plans as start of school looms

August 10, 2021 12:56 PM Leila Mitchell

With less than two weeks remaining before many schools start back up, districts throughout Mid-Missouri have not made a decision on mandating masks.

Back to School Health Fair helps families prepare for first day of class

August 7, 2021 7:25 PM Hannah Falcon

Cars lined the streets around Derby Ridge Elementary on Saturday as hundreds of Boone County families went booth to booth getting haircuts, information from local vendors and school supplies.