Columbia Public Schools Archives

FRIDAY UPDATES: Columbia Public Schools Foundation donates 100,000 child-size masks for students

March 26, 2021 9:24 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Columbia Public Schools reaches settlement with family over the use of seclusion rooms

March 23, 2021 8:37 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A settlement has been reached between Columbia Public Schools and the family of a student over the use of seclusion rooms. The district agreed to pay a family $20,000 over claims administrators at Beulah Ralph Elementary School put a child in a room for several hours as punishment. CPS denied it did

Updated CDC guidance says 3 feet of distancing is safe in schools

March 20, 2021 7:06 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortened its physical distancing guidelines for children in schools to recommend most students maintain at least 3 feet of distance. The CDC had previously said schools should try to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between children. This change comes after a new study

Columbia Board of Education looking to address over-enrollment at area schools

March 19, 2021 8:22 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education and Columbia Public Schools want to address over-enrollment at area schools. Phase 1 will address Parkade Elementary School’s attendance area as enrollment is currently overcapacity. Phase 1 changes will be implemented this fall. Phase 2 will address the remaining elementary attendance areas with implementation planned for 2022-23.

Health experts move toward shorter social distancing standards in schools

March 17, 2021 11:42 AM Chanel Porter

A new study released in Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests that it is safe for schools to open with 3 feet for social distancing as long as students, teachers and staff wear masks.

Columbia Public Schools announces superintendent choice

March 15, 2021 5:32 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Columbia, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education selected Dr. H. Brian Yearwood to serve as Columbia Public Schools’ next superintendent after a board vote during a closed executive session Monday morning. The board voted 7-0 to approve the contract for the new superintendent. Yearwood was selected after a nationwide search following Dr. Peter Stiepleman’s

John Warner Middle School principal out for the remainder of the year

March 15, 2021 8:41 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools sent a notification out to parents of students at John Warner Middle School that Principal Jimmy Hale is out for the remainder of the year. According to the letter, Taylor Drennan is the interim principal. Dr. Jean Selby, a retired CPS middle school principal, will join the John Warner

Columbia Public Schools superintendent candidates answer public’s questions during forum

March 11, 2021 10:22 PM Connor Hirsch

These finalists include Dr. Harold Brian Yearwood (Manor, Texas), Dr. Chace Ramey (Iowa City, Iowa), and Dr. Erick Pruitt (Chicago, Illinois).

Columbia Public Schools to host virtual public forum

March 11, 2021 4:53 AM Ben Fein

Columbia Public Schools is set to host a virtual public forum Thursday for the district’s three superintendent finalists.

CPS sees large jump in staff vaccination rate

March 10, 2021 1:05 PM Meghan Drakas

Columbia Public Schools saw a more than 10% increase in its staff vaccination rate in just a single day.

Staffing issues remain as CPS moves forward with a full return for students

March 10, 2021 11:52 AM Victoria Bragg

Columbia Public Schools will welcome students back to classrooms full-time on April 5, but the district remains in need of bus drivers, nutrition service employees and substitute teachers.

Some Columbia Public Schools students to return to classrooms full-time while others remain online

March 9, 2021 12:37 PM Victoria Bragg

Most students will return to CPS schools five days a week but some will remain online.

Five-day week learning allows parents to fully return to work

March 9, 2021 12:16 PM Zola Crowder

A study from Brookings Institute said working parents are the key to recovering from the pandemic.

Columbia Board of Education votes in favor of five-day week

March 8, 2021 8:36 PM Sydney Olsen

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education voted Monday night to return to in-person learning five days a week. Students in all grades will return to the classroom Monday through Friday after spring break, which ends on April 2. The board voted unanimously to approve the return. Students that were already learning online-only will

Columbia Board of Education narrows superintendent search; 3 candidates announced

March 8, 2021 12:58 PM Matt Ragsdale

The Columbia Board of Education announced its shortlist of superintendent candidates Monday.

Columbia Public Schools seeing ‘substantial’ coronavirus transmission as five-day week decision looms

March 8, 2021 11:52 AM Zola Crowder

Columbia Public Schools is reporting a “substantial” level of coronavirus transmission under federal guidelines for reopening schools as the board of education decides whether to send students back to classes five days a week.

Although educators are not eligible to get their vaccine through the state's plan, they can get vaccinated right now at a few major pharmacies like Walmart through a federal program.

Teachers eligible for vaccine at select pharmacies as CPS to consider five day weeks

March 8, 2021 5:46 AM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Select pharmacies across Missouri are currently offering coronavirus vaccines to teachers as local education boards look to get students back to in-person classes five days a week. President Joe Biden says vaccinating educators is a priority and hopes to have every educator get at least one coronavirus vaccine shot by the end

Columbia Board of Education to consider five day weeks, some parents and teachers optimistic

March 7, 2021 6:51 PM Connor Hirsch

It’s been nearly one year since the COVID-19 drastically changed how students in Mid-Missouri learned. Now, the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education is set to vote on more more step closer to normalcy.

CPS reports lowest case rate ahead of vote on five-day-a-week in-person learning

March 5, 2021 5:47 AM Ben Fein

The CPS Board of Education is set to discuss and vote on a motion that would bring students back to the classroom, full time.

Columbia Board of Education recommends new Midway Heights Elementary School Principal

March 3, 2021 7:03 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) David Stallo will be recommended to the Columbia Board of Education to be the next principal at Midway Heights Elementary School for the 2021-22 school year. Stallo replaces Principal Angie Gerzen who announced her retirement, after 27 years in education, earlier this school year. Stallo is currently the assistant principal at Mary