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Columbia Public Schools

Columbia Board of Education to meet Thursday to discuss updates on snow day remote learning

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education will be meeting Thursday morning to give updates regarding snow days being replaced with remote learning. There will be a presentation at Thursday’s meeting on Alternate Methods of Instruction which will add remote learning days. This follows the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s incentive program for Senate

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Columbia Board of Education candidates stress transparency amid superintendent’s abrupt exit

EDITOR’S NOTE: A reference to Brian Yearwood not being mentioned at an event has been removed. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The two candidates so far for Columbia Board of Education are pledging to prioritize transparency after the exit of a superintendent was shrouded in secrecy. The lack of transparency surrounding the exit of Columbia Public Schools

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Columbia approves additional weapons detection systems at CPS high schools

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education approved the purchase of six additional weapons detection systems at a pair of the school district’s high schools during Monday night’s board meeting. The system will cost the district $102,246.00 through the Safety and Security operating budget. The district plans on adding three Open Gate weapons detection

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CPS to pay MSBA $20,000 for superintendent search; 5-of-17 prospects have completed applications

Editor’s note: A name has been corrected. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is paying the Missouri School Board Association $20,000 to help find a permanent superintendent. CPS paid its former superintendent Brian Yearwood more than $667,000 in a contract buyout after announcing Yearwood would step down immediately in November, ending his contract early. Board

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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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