K-12 education Archives

Missouri Senate debates Parents’ Bill of Rights

February 1, 2023 10:10 AM Hannah Falcon

Missouri senators spent hours debating the legislation known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” Wednesday afternoon.

CPS superintendent apologizes, will review permission-slip process following drag performance

February 1, 2023 4:38 PM Ryan Shiner

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood apologized to parents in a letter Wednesday following a drag performance at a diversity event held by the city two weeks ago where students were present.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is the state doing enough to raise teacher pay?

January 31, 2023 6:02 PM ABC 17 News Team

Teachers rallied Tuesday at the Missouri Capitol to tell officials and lawmakers about their priorities.

Missouri teachers outline legislative priorities at state Capitol

January 31, 2023 3:48 PM Hannah Falcon

A group that advocates for Missouri’s teachers lobbied legislators in the state Capitol on Tuesday to take action to retain experienced teachers and recruit talented new ones.

Missouri AG pressures schools to ban drag performances

January 31, 2023 3:55 PM Ryan Shiner

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey put pressure Tuesday on school boards to adopt resolutions banning drag performances where students are present.

$2 million grant to be used to help rural Missouri schools detect possible threats

January 30, 2023 9:07 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Researchers at the University of Missouri are using a $2 million grant from the Department of Justice to help identify and avert threats students or others may make on school grounds, according to a Monday press release. The project — which will partner with up to 26 rural school districts – is expected to

Jefferson City School District announces Houf will be new CCHS principal

January 27, 2023 5:06 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ The Jefferson City School District announced in a Thursday press release that Beth Houf will be the next principal of Capital City High School. Houf previously was the principal at Fulton Middle School principal and was named the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ National Principal of the Year in 2022.

Missouri AG issues another letter to CPS over drag performance at diversity event

January 25, 2023 3:59 PM Ryan Shiner

A drag queen performance last week at diversity breakfast where Columbia students were present continued Wednesday to draw the ire of Missouri Republican officials.

Boone County clerk asks to intervene in Basye-CPS case

January 20, 2023 4:39 PM Ryan Shiner

Boone County’s top election official is asking the court to let her join a former state representative’s lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools.

Basye asks judge to add name to April Columbia School Board ballot

January 19, 2023 4:23 PM Ryan Shiner

A former state legislator will try to convince a judge that he should force Columbia Public Schools to add Basye’s name to the April election ballot.

Jefferson City School Board approves election ballot

January 12, 2023 9:00 PM ABC 17 News Team

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Board of Education approved the school board election ballot and approved a question for the April election at its meeting on Thursday. There are three spots that are up for election. Scott Hovis, Brad Bates, Michael Harvey, Tapiwa ‘Felix’ Madondo and Suzanna Luther were all confirmed on the ballot.

Missouri State Board of Education to talk about priorities for upcoming legislative session

December 13, 2022 6:14 AM Kennedy Miller

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) On Tuesday, the Missouri State Board of Education plans to talk about its priorities for the 2023 legislative session. MO-State-Board-of-Education-Agenda-12-13-2022Download Among other topics, board members expect to discuss the success of students and workforce development. Board members want to retain more educators in Missouri by pushing for a minimum starting salary

Columbia Board of Education approves five-year school improvement plan

December 12, 2022 6:11 AM Kennedy Miller

The Columbia Board of Education approved its five-year continuous school improvement plan at its meeting Monday night.

Flu cases close Randolph County school district

December 7, 2022 6:09 PM Matthew Sanders

A Randolph County school district is closed this week because too many students are sick.

Blairs Oaks R-II School District hires new superintendent

December 5, 2022 9:22 AM Zachary Farwell

WARDSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A new superintendent will soon lead the Blair Oaks R-II School District. According to a press release, Ben B. Meldrum will start as the superintendent of schools on Saturday, July 1. Currently, Meldrum is the principal at Capital City High School in Jefferson City. He spent the last 4 years serving in

Missouri Military Academy calls abuse lawsuit ‘unfounded’

November 30, 2022 10:07 AM Matthew Sanders

The leader of the Missouri Military Academy said Wednesday that the school will defend itself against unfounded allegations that officials allowed physical abuse against a former student.

Mexico School Board asks for community input about four-day school week

November 17, 2022 5:12 PM Ryan Shiner

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) The Mexico School District announced on its Facebook page that its school board voted on Tuesday to explore the possibility of switching to a four-day school week for the 2023-2024 school year. On a survey using Google the district claims roughly 25% of Missouri schools have already switched to a four-day schedule.

3rd investigation finds no contamination at Missouri school

November 16, 2022 11:30 AM Associated Press

FLORISSANT, Mo. (AP) — Another round of testing found no harmful radioactive contamination at a Missouri elementary school, leaving school board members to wonder if there really is any risk at the now-shuttered school. Jana Elementary School in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant was shut down last month after testing by a private company

MDC and CPS to begin construction on Boone County Nature School in upcoming weeks

November 3, 2022 5:05 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Construction of the new Boone County Nature School classroom building is set to begin in a few weeks. The new building was designed by PW Architects. Columbia Public Schools has awarded the bid for construction to Verslues Construction Company, of Jefferson City. Construction should be completed by March 2024. The construction is

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you worried about safety in local schools?

October 31, 2022 2:47 AM ABC 17 News Team

Mid-Missouri schools last week saw a string of police incidents and threats of violence.