Jefferson City School District Archives

JC Board of Education approves $2.1 million contract for West Elementary roof replacement; East Elementary to become fine arts school

February 12, 2026 6:53 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Board of Education approved a $2.1 million contract at its Thursday meeting to fix a portion of the roof at West Elementary School. The contract was awarded to Columbia contractor Integrated Facility Services. The contract was approved with the board’s consent agenda. Contractors would work from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Carlos Graham picked for open Jefferson City School Board seat

January 8, 2026 3:52 PM Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Carlos Graham is the newest member of the Jefferson City Board of Education. Graham was unanimously picked by the board to take the open seat left by former board President Erika Leonard. The board made its decision by a public vote during its Thursday night meeting. Graham was sworn in immediately

Candidates announced for 2026 elections for JC Council, boards of education, Camdenton Aldermen

December 30, 2025 6:17 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Tuesday was the deadline to file in non-charter city elections around the state for the spring. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7. The last day to register to vote is March 11. The certification date for candidates is Jan. 27. Jefferson City Council Two seats on the Jefferson City Council will be

Cierra Griffin announces candidacy for Jefferson City Board of Education

December 15, 2025 8:32 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The field for the Jefferson City Board of Education race continues to grow. Cierra Griffin, in a Monday press release, announced her bid for one of the open seats on the board. Ryan Towner, Gretchen Duckworth, Trent Vallandingham and Michelle Rodemeyer announced their candidacies earlier this month. Three seats on the board are up

JC Board of Education president resigns, Board accepting applications for open vacancy

December 11, 2025 6:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Board of Education accepted the resignation of Board President Erika Leonard at its meeting on Wednesday night. An email from the school district says the board approved a process for accepting applications for the vacant seat on the board. Applications for the position can be placed at the Jefferson

Jefferson City Board of Education president resigns

December 9, 2025 5:37 PM Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The president of the Jefferson City Board of Education has resigned, effective at the start of December. The board will review Erika Leonard’s resignation letter and talk about the potential board vacancy at its meeting on Wednesday. Leonard, in a letter posted with the meeting agenda, writes that she decided to

2 more candidates announce bid for Jefferson City Board of Education

December 4, 2025 7:02 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two more people have announced their intent to run for spots on the Jefferson City Board of Education. Ryan Towner and Gretchen Duckworth both announced their campaigns in Thursday press releases. Trent Vallandingham and Michelle Rodemeyer announced their bids earlier this week. Three seats on the board are up for election. Candidates can begin

Trent Vallandingham announces Jefferson City Board of Education bid

December 3, 2025 6:55 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Trent Vallandingham announced his bid for the Jefferson City Board of Education in a Wednesday press release. Vallandingham is the second person this week to announce their candidacy. Michelle Rodemeyer announced her bid earlier this week. Three seats on the board are up for election. Candidates can begin filing across the state

Michelle Rodemeyer announces candidacy for Jefferson City Board of Education

December 1, 2025 8:07 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Michelle Rodemeyer announced in a Monday evening press release that she will be running for a spot on the Jefferson City Board of Education. The release says she is a certified public accountant at Estes and Associates and previously worked at the Missouri State Public Health laboratory as a budget and fiscal

Most Missouri public schools improve test scores, attendance

November 6, 2025 12:01 PM Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released data Thursday crucial to determining how public schools across the state are performing for the 2024-25 school year. The annual performance report shows that more than 91% of schools meet or exceed state expectations, and 92% of students attend a school that

Missouri schools and law enforcement agencies lack requirements for active shooter drills

October 16, 2025 4:47 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Despite the growing number of school shootings in the United States, many Missouri school districts and law enforcement agencies lack standardized requirements for active shooter drills. In Missouri, teachers are required to participate in simulated active-shooter drills under the state’s ASIRT statute. However, broader safety training, such as how to identify threats or

Jefferson City Transit offering free rides for students this fall

August 18, 2025 7:52 PM Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) This fall, Jefferson City students have a free option for getting to and from school. Jefferson City Transit is waiving bus fares for students on Tripper routes throughout the fall semester. The free service applies to anyone riding the Tripper Routes, which operate Monday through Friday on school days. No student ID

Jefferson City School District kicks off the 2025-26 year Monday

August 18, 2025 5:40 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City School District is kicking off the 2025-26 school year Monday morning, as students will be introduced to the new statewide cellphone policy in schools. In July, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 68 banning the use of cell phones during instructional time, lunch breaks, study halls and between

Jefferson City students get ready to return to the classroom without their phones

August 15, 2025 2:50 PM Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) When students return to school throughout Missouri, they might notice one change: no phones allowed. A new state law requires all school districts to establish a no-phones policy, even if the district previously had one, like Jefferson City School District. “We had a policy where kids didn’t have them in classrooms.

New program set to launch to help ease child care costs

August 7, 2025 4:35 PM Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City School District opened its new Early Childhood Center on Thursday. The new facility, located at 1840 E. McCarty St., doubles the number of students served from 150 to 300 out of the district’s approximately 600 annual early childhood graduates, according to school officials. Construction was paid for with

Shoppers rush to buy school supplies before potential tariffs take effect

July 24, 2025 9:29 PM Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Back-to-school shopping is starting earlier than usual this year, as families scramble to buy supplies before new tariffs take effect next month. For many shoppers, it’s all about beating the clock. With tariffs set to impact the cost of imported school essentials starting Aug. 1, parents and grandparents are hitting stores

JC Board of Education approves largest teacher base pay bump in 17 years

June 26, 2025 8:49 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Board of Education on Thursday night unanimously approved its operating budget for next school year. The $172 million budget includes the largest base pay increase Jefferson City teachers have seen in 17 years. Certified staff will see an $1,800 increase to $43,300. The total raise for teachers with one

Jefferson City School District improves again in MSHP bus inspections

June 5, 2025 3:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City School District saw another year of improvement after the Missouri State Highway Patrol released its annual bus inspections on Thursday. A press release from MSHP shows that from around the state, 10,144 buses were approved on its initial inspection, while 799 were rated “defective” and 312 were determined to

Traffic on road near Adkins Stadium to be closed for state track meet

May 20, 2025 2:11 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Traffic on Stadium Boulevard near Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City will be closed for a portion of Friday and Saturday for the state track meet, according to a Tuesday press release from the Jefferson City Police Department. Traffic will be restricted from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. both days between Jackson Street and Mesa

Rhonda Allen-Lewis named next principal of Belair Elementary in Jefferson City

May 15, 2025 2:22 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Rhonda Allen-Lewis will be the next principal of Belair Elementary School in Jefferson City, according to a Thursday press release from the Jefferson City School District. Allen-Lewis is currently an assistant principal at Lewis and Clark Middle School and will replace current Todd Shalz, who was recently named as the district’s new