Handful of Mid-Missouri schools offer driver’s education courses this summer
Student driver vehicles can be seen on the roadways in Mid-Missouri this summer as schools offer their summer driver’s education courses.
Continue ReadingK-12 education
Bus inspections show improvement for Jefferson City School District from last year
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol has completed its annual bus inspections for school districts in the state and the Jefferson City School District saw an improvement from last year. School buses can be rated as “approved,” “defective” or “out of service.” A Tuesday press release from MSHP states buses with defective ratings
Continue Reading
Helias Catholic breaks ground on campus expansion
Crusader alumni, students and faculty came together Wednesday as Helias Catholic High School broke ground on its Spirit of Excellence campus expansion project.
Continue Reading
Columbia Board of Education details possible cellphone policy during first public ‘listening session’
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Members of the Columbia Board of Education detailed a possible student cellphone policy plan and discussed the implementation of a weapons-detection system during a roundtable discussion on Wednesday evening. About a dozen people showed up for Columbia Public School’s first listening session at Battle High School. The sessions are designed to allow
Continue Reading
CPS summer school begins Thursday, includes driver’s education
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Summer school will begin on Thursday for Columbia Public Schools students. More than 9,800 students will attend summer school this year, which runs through June 26, according to an email from district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark and information from the district’s website. The email stated the district’s driver’s education course returns this session.
Continue Reading
Columbia high schools hold graduation ceremonies this weekend
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) All Columbia public high schools will hold its graduation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. A Friday press release from Columbia Public Schools states nearly 1,400 students will graduate. Douglass High School held the first graduation on Friday morning at Jesse Hall Audition at the University of Missouri’s campus. The release stated that
Continue Reading
Missouri budget bill includes funds for AI weapon detection systems in schools
The Missouri legislatures passed a $51 billion fiscal 2025 state budget Friday, including funding to implement firearm detection software in schools.
Continue Reading
Next possible phases for attendance changes unveiled for Columbia schools, some areas of town could change schools within district
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools held an open house Tuesday at Hickman High School to present the five options of Phases 2 and 3 for changing school boundaries. The meeting also allowed the public to provide feedback on the plans. Phase 1 of the plans were approved on April 17, which addressed the expansions
Continue Reading
Superintendents ask Parson to veto bill that would allow charter schools in Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Superintendents from Boone County schools and neighboring districts signed a letter on Friday that asks Gov. Mike Parson to veto a bill that would allow charter schools to operate in Boone County. SB727 passed the Missouri House last month. The bill mentions that school districts in Boone County would be added to the
Continue Reading
Educators poke holes in Missouri Legislature’s plan to raise teacher salaries
As budget negotiations continue at the Missouri State Capitol, lawmakers have multiple proposals on how to give teachers across the state a raise.
Continue Reading
Groundbreaking held for new elementary school in southwest Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Leaders at Columbia Public Schools broke ground on Friday afternoon on a new elementary school in southwest Columbia. The school will be built near John Warner Middle School on Sinclair Road. Officials say the school is expected to hold 750 students and is slated to open in the fall of 2026.
Continue Reading
CPS leaders, state representative disappointed in passage of bill allowing charter schools in Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some Columbia Public School leaders and state representatives are concerned about the Missouri House’s passing of Senate Bill 727 Thursday. SB727 mentions that school districts in Boone County would be added to the list of districts where a charter school could be operated. The bill would also expand K-12 private school scholarships
Continue Reading
Columbia Board of Education approves pay raise for superintendent
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Thursday approved a pay raise for Superintendent Brian Yearwood. The measure passed 5-2. It gives Yearwood a 5% raise to $261,640, according to meeting documents. The raise will begin next school year. The board voted in February to extend Yearwood’s contract through June 30, 2027.
Continue Reading
Missouri House passes bill that would allow charter schools in Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that would allow charter schools to operate in Boone County. Senate Bill 727 mentions that school districts in Boone County would be added to the list of districts where a charter school could be operated. The bill would also expand K-12 private school scholarships statewide
Continue Reading
Columbia Board of Education approves Phase 1 of attendance area changes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Wednesday approved a new elementary school attendance area change during a special session. The board approved an option that would move 59 students to Russell Boulevard from Fairview Elementary, feeding Fairview Elementary into two schools, instead of three. The measure passed 5-1, with Boardmember April Ferrao
Continue Reading
Stephens College president to retire in May 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Stephens college President Dianne Lynch will retire in May 2025, according to a Thursday press release. Lynch began working at Stephens College in 2009, the release states. “Under President Lynch’s leadership, Stephens College has flourished, embarking on numerous transformative initiatives that have enriched academic programs and significantly enhanced campus life,” Stephens College
Continue Reading Mid-Missouri school districts still battling low attendance rates four years after pandemic
The number of chronically absent students in Missouri has increased in the past five years, and some of Mid-Missouri’s largest school districts are experiencing the trend.
Continue Reading
Southern Boone Board of Education appoints Heather Brown as new member
ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) Heather Brown has been picked to join the Southern Boone Board of Education, a Wednesday press release from a school district spokesman says. The Board was looking to fill a vacancy after Board member Crystal Branch passed away, according to previous reporting. Branch died on Feb. 24. The school district announced it
Continue Reading
Columbia Public Schools will roll out weapons detection systems at high schools in the fall
Columbia Public Schools approved a bid with Communications Technologies Inc. for weapons detection systems at its board of education meeting Monday night.
Continue Reading
Columbia Board of Education to discuss weapon detection system at meeting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Monday the Columbia Board of Education is expected to approve a bid from Communications Technology Inc. to provide weapon detection systems for all three comprehensive high schools. CPS had an interview team comprised of six members to review proposals from six vendors. After the interview process, the team selected Alliance Technology
Continue Reading