Columbia Public Schools Archives

Substitute teacher issue remains as Columbia Public Schools returns to in-person classes

January 14, 2021 12:57 PM Chanel Porter

Middle and high school students have not been in the classroom since last spring, when the coronavirus pandemic started.

CPS teacher prepare for students return in-person

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you agree with sending CPS students back to class?

January 13, 2021 2:36 AM ABC 17 News Team

Public opinion is split on whether the vote was the correct course of action amid high coronavirus case rates.

Columbia Police Department responds to threats made against board of education

January 12, 2021 7:14 PM Sydney Olsen

The Columbia Police Department and security at Columbia Public Schools are continuing to track threats to board of education members and their families.

Columbia Public Schools teachers preparing for students in classrooms after school board vote

January 12, 2021 12:32 PM Zola Crowder

Columbia Public Schools teachers are working to get their classrooms ready for students again the day after a school board vote to open buildings to students next week.

Columbia Board of Education votes to return students to an in-class hybrid model

January 11, 2021 3:38 PM Sydney Olsen

Students are currently scheduled to return to in-person learning on Jan. 19. However, that could change when the Columbia Board of Education meets Monday night.

Columbia parents and teachers have split opinions about the return to the classroom

January 11, 2021 7:51 PM Connor Hirsch

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As the Columbia Board of Education discussed the idea of returning to the classroom amid the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and teachers have different opinions about the issue. The Columbia Board of Education voted 5-2 for students to return to in-class sessions in a hybrid model. Elementary school and pre-k will return to

WATCH: CPS superintendent talks vaccines, in-person learning ahead of planned vote

January 11, 2021 2:25 AM Molly Stawinoga

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman joined ABC 17 News This Morning.

Lewis and Clark Middle School in Jefferson City returns to in-person classes after Thanksgiving break.

State lawmaker proposes school board recalls, transfer option in response to online learning

January 8, 2021 3:01 PM Victoria Bragg

State Rep. Chuck Basye wants voters to have the power to recall school board members and parents the ability to transfer their children from schools teaching only online out of coronavirus fears.

More than 200 Columbia Public Schools employees eligible for the first round of vaccine

January 7, 2021 7:01 PM Connor Hirsch

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As vaccine distribution continues across Mid-Missouri, a small group of Columbia Public Schools employees are able to sign up for a shot. A spokeswoman for the district confirmed that 216 employees are now able to sign up to receive a vaccine from Boone Hospital. Those eligible are school nurses and special education

Inspectors found one non-critical violation at Gentry Middle School.

Thirteen more inspections at Columbia Public Schools result in one violation

January 6, 2021 11:48 AM Molly Stawinoga

Health officials inspected 13 Columbia schools since ABC 17’s last report. Only one was found with a non-critical violation.

Jefferson City students back in person as Columbia Public Schools remains online for now

January 5, 2021 11:59 AM Victoria Bragg

In one district, students are back in their school buildings. In the other, they’re learning online for at least two more weeks.

No plans to require coronavirus vaccine in area schools

December 23, 2020 11:41 AM Molly Stawinoga

Educators are included in Phase 1B of Missouri’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, which is the next in line. As of right now, there are no plans to require teachers or staff to get vaccinated.

The Columbia Public School board of education

Columbia Board of Education to use a new firm to search for the next superintendent

December 15, 2020 10:28 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Board of Education is changing the way they are searching for a new superintendent. The board had previously done several searches with the aid of the Missouri School Board Association. The district evaluated and performed interviews with five of the seven firms that submitted proposals. This time the board will use

Some Columbia Public Schools parents in support of kids heading back to in-person learning

December 15, 2020 7:26 PM Victoria Bragg

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools announced Monday their plans to potentially send students back to the classroom on January 19, 2021. The Columbia Board of Education decided to push the date for students to return to an in-person learning environment from Jan. 11 to Jan. 19. The board also plans to install air purifier

Columbia Board of Education approves $1.2 million air purifier contract

December 15, 2020 5:41 AM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education moved to improve COVID-19 safety measures at its meeting Monday night. One of the measures the BOE approved was the purchase of air purifiers for classrooms. According to board documents, the cost of the “ionization devices” is about $1.2 million. The cost will be covered by the