Columbia Public Schools Archives

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

Multiple events to offer free school supplies for students in Boone County

August 7, 2021 4:17 AM Ben Fein

Multiple events, aimed at providing Boone county students with free school supplies are set to begin Saturday.

Jefferson City Schools finalizes back-to-school plan, leaves out decision on masking

August 6, 2021 12:17 PM Hannah Falcon

Superintendent Larry Linthacum, PhD, said the district will announce its decision on masking no later than Monday, Aug. 16, which is one week before the first day of school.

DESE: In-person learning is still a priority in light of new COVID-19 guidance for the upcoming school year

July 26, 2021 6:32 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released reopening and operating guidance for schools as the start of the Fall 2021 semester is just four weeks away. The Covid-19 safety measures that are being recommended, are all in light of safely returning to full in-person instruction as the top priority.

CMNEA recommends CPS mask up to start the school year

July 21, 2021 11:37 AM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The CMNEA COVID Advisory Committee sent a letter recommending all CPS students, faculty and staff wear masks to start off the school year, regardless of vaccination status. The teachers union recommends until all elementary-aged students are eligible for the vaccines, have received their doses and surpassed the two-week waiting period to become

Time runs short for eligible students to get coronavirus vaccine before school year starts

July 20, 2021 12:22 PM Hannah Falcon

Tuesday is the last day for Columbia Public Schools and Moberly Public Schools students to receive the first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine if they want to be fully vaccinated by the first day of school on Aug. 24.

Last day for Jefferson City students to be fully vaccinated by the first day of school

July 19, 2021 6:06 AM Meghan Drakas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Monday is the last day for students who attend the Jefferson City School District to start the vaccination process and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by their first day of the 2021-2022 school year. The Jefferson City School District along with Booneville R-I, Blair Oaks R-II and Father Tolton Catholic are

Columbia Public Schools dealing with staffing shortages

July 14, 2021 12:12 PM Ben Fein

Brian Yearwood, Superintendent of Columbia Public Schools says it continues to deal with staffing shortages in both substitute teachers and bus drivers.

Mid-Missouri school boards take up critical race theory, The 1619 Project

July 13, 2021 11:44 AM Hannah Falcon

Teachers in Mid-Missouri’s largest school district will evaluate the New York Times’ 1619 Project, which is embroiled in controversy over critical race theory in schools.

WATCH: Columbia’s new superintendent talks about the return to learn

July 14, 2021 3:48 AM Molly Stawinoga

Dr. Brian Yearwood, the new superintendent at Columbia Public Schools, is joining ABC 17 News This Morning on KMIZ Wednesday.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should students younger than 12 have to wear masks indoors?

July 13, 2021 1:59 AM ABC 17 News Team

Columbia Public Schools on Monday began requiring students younger than 12 years old to wear masks indoors.

Some parents unhappy with new Columbia Public Schools COVID-19 rules; district hopes standards keep kids in classroom

July 12, 2021 5:15 PM Leila Mitchell

CPS on Monday updated its mask, contact tracing and quarantine guidelines for the rest of summer school, which ends July 23. Among the changes is that students 11 and younger are now required to wear masks indoors. The district made masks optional before regular classes ended in May.

Columbia Board of Education met Monday to move forward with additions to virtual learning

July 12, 2021 4:20 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Monday, the Columbia Board of Education met to approve a template to a new virtual learning option, as well as renew hotspots. During the 2021-22 school year, Columbia Public Schools will offer CPS Virtual Elementary powered by Edgenuity for students in grades K-5. The district will consider offering the template to

Columbia Public Schools new mask guidelines to go into effect Monday

July 12, 2021 5:32 AM Zola Crowder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools updated its mask, contact tracing, and quarantine guidelines for the remainder of summer school. Starting Monday, Students 11 years-old and younger will be required to wear a mask when indoors and on school buses. However, students will not be required to wear a mask when outdoors. Masks are still strongly encouraged

CPS returns to requiring some students to wear masks as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

July 9, 2021 5:22 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools notified families Friday that the district will require students 11-years-old and younger to wear masks inside and on buses during the summer session. This decision comes as the district has continued to monitor Covid-19 cases. The 14-Day Tracker for CPS shows that the district entered back into the red

Motorcyclist dead after wreck with Columbia Public School bus on trip in Wyoming

June 25, 2021 9:24 PM ABC 17 News Team

JACKSON, Wy. (KMIZ) The Columbia School District says all students and staff are safe after being involved in a fatal crash. It happened during a school trip to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Officials with the district say a motorcyclist died in the wreck. The district says the group is awaiting a new bus in

Over 700 CPS elementary students will change schools due to new boundaries over the next three years

June 14, 2021 6:34 PM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) UPDATE: The Columbia Public Schools Board of Education approved a new redistricting plan, along with the 2021-2022 fiscal budget Monday night. District officials will now move forward with the three year redistricting plans and the fiscal budget beginning July 1. Over the next three years, 724 kindergarten through fourth grade students will

Columbia Public Schools projected to spend $4.6 million more than it’s bringing in during the 2021-22 school year

June 9, 2021 3:19 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools held a public hearing Wednesday for its 2021-22 school year budget. Meeting documents project the district will spend nearly $4.6 million more than it will bring in. Chief Financial Officer Heather McArthur reviewed the budget for the school year and members of the community commented after the presentation. The

Multiple losses in the CPS community are being grieved for this week

June 4, 2021 5:29 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools has lost three of its own within the last week after the deaths of an elementary school teacher, a student of Rock Bridge High School, and a recent 2020 graduate of Battle High School. Early Friday morning, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a homicide in the 4300 block

Columbia Public Schools last day of School; Faculty and students persevered through a difficult year

June 3, 2021 5:51 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools ended a long difficult school year Thursday. Michelle Baumstark spokeswoman for Columbia Public Schools said this school year was a great example of teachers, students and faculty staying strong and persevering. “Today is really about a celebration of perseverance. A celebration of what our students and our employees were able

New Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School principal announced

June 3, 2021 4:03 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new interim prinicipal at Alpha Hart Elementary School will be recommended to the Columbia Board of Education. Brian Rehg will take over the role from current Principal De’Vion Moore, who was named the next assistant superintendent for elementary education for the school district. Rehg is currently the assistant principal at Parkade