COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education unanimously passed the 2026-27 budget at its meeting on Monday evening. Previous reporting and a presentation from the district show the operating budget projects $309.8 million in revenue compared with $321.5 million in expenditures, resulting in a planned use of approximately $11.7 million in reserves. Healthcare costs
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is proposing a roughly $390.7 million budget for the 2026-27 school year that relies on dipping into reserves to cover rising costs, most notably the opening of a new elementary school and uncertainties surrounding state funding. The district’s operating budget, or General and Teachers funds, accounts for roughly 80%
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol has completed its annual bus inspections. A Wednesday press release from MSHP says 10,239 buses were approved on its initial inspection, while 849 were rated “defective” and 283 were determined to be “out of service.” The release says that defective components require repair within 10 days, “out-of-service”
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will not be able to accept new applications for enrollees beginning on July 1 because of state budget cuts, according to an email from a Missouri Department of Education and Secondary Education spokesperson. “Due to the proposed 2027 Fiscal Year state budget reduction, beginning July 1, 2026, Dolly Parton Imagination Library will not have the funds to accept
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Board of Education President Mary Schrag resigned from her position on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Schrag was appointed to the state board in 2019 by then-Gov. Mike Parson. Her term officially expired in 2024, but state law allows that person
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The legal guardian of a child with cerebral palsy filed a discrimination lawsuit on Monday against the Russellville School District and a number of its employees. Daryl Matheis sued the Cole County R-1 School District, along with teachers and paraprofessionals, after claiming disability discrimination, sex discrimination, retaliation, battery, assault and false imprisonment.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Monday was the first day of summer school for Columbia Public Schools, and a press release from a district spokeswoman says more than 9,400 students are attending class. The release says that figure represents more than half of the district’ regular school year enrollment. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade can enter
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Bunceton school board member pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court for her role in an alleged scheme that defrauded the school district out of $385,000. Ashley Benny, 41, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to a Thursday press release from the Department
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Nearly 1,400 Columbia Public Schools students will graduate this weekend. CPS is holding four graduation ceremonies for its high schools on Saturday and Sunday. An email from a district spokeswoman says Battle High School will graduate 345 students, Douglass High School will graduate 58, Hickman High School will see 477 students walk
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Editor’s note: Reinke’s position has been clarified. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Children’s Services Board started contract negotiations Thursday with a children’s program that provides social, emotional or behavioral support to school-aged children. This comes a couple of months after the Family Access Center of Excellence was asked to cut about $1.6 million ahead
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri House sent an amended bill for state designations back to the Senate on Wednesday. One such designation would make June 28 each year “Eliot and Muriel Battle Day” in Missouri. The text of the amendment says people are “encouraged to participate in…events and activities” honoring Eliot Battle, the first Black
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Iberia R-5 School District wrote on its social media on Monday that it learned an employee was accused of sexual misconduct with a student. The district wrote that it learned of the allegations last week and contacted law enforcement and the Missouri Children’s Division. The employee’s name was not stated in
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Monday approved a salary increase for Superintendent Jeff Klein. The increase was on the agenda for Monday’s Board of Education meeting, which began at 6 p.m. Under the proposal, Klein will receive a 6% salary increase ($15,300) for the next school year. Klein currently makes $255,000
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools leaders could approve a new salary package for Superintendent Jeff Klein while also renewing a program that brings international teachers into district classrooms at Monday night’s meeting. The school district is seeking approval to renew an agreement with BVD Cultural Exchange, LLC, a company that helps sponsor international teachers
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Klein’s salary is an agenda item for Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. The board is expected to approve a 6% salary increase ($15,300) for Klein for the next school year, according meeting documents. Klein currently makes $255,000 per year and the increase would bump it up
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City High School’s graduation ceremony on Friday will be moved indoors because of inclement weather, according to an email from a district spokesman. The email says seniors have been given six tickets each in case the ceremony was going to be moved to Fleming Fieldhouse. Doors open at 6 p.m. Students
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Hermann High School in Gasconade County was evacuated at 10:45 a.m. Thursday after the district received a threat, according to a social media post from the Gasconade County R-1 School District. The district wrote it had “received a threat that required us to take immediate action to ensure the safety of our
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police in Lebanon, Missouri, in Laclede County say a threat that was made to Lebanon High School on Wednesday morning was not credible. Police wrote in a release that officers were called at 10:50 a.m. for an alleged bomb threat. Students were “relocated to an alternative site” while officers, including K-9 units,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A student from Jefferson City High School was removed from the building on Tuesday after they were found with a weapon, according to a letter sent to parents by the Jefferson City School District. The district wrote that a weapon was in a student’s belongings while officials were searching for vape products.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A vehicle and a Columbia Public Schools bus collided on Interstate 70 eastbound east of St. Charles Road on Wednesday. CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said no students were on the bus. Boone County dispatchers sent out a public alert saying the road was likely blocked. Columbia Police are working the crash scene.
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