K-12 education Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will lawmakers fix the school calendar issues around snow days?

February 26, 2025 3:58 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri’s rules for public school instruction time and how inclement weather affects that time have caused some issues for school districts.

Missouri lawmakers push to clarify school calendar, snow day rules

February 25, 2025 6:13 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) While cold weather may have moved out of Mid-Missouri, the lingering effects of last week’s snowfall will affect Columbia Public Schools. On Feb. 17, CPS used its last-of-six allotted alternative methods of instruction days. The next day, CPS was forced to use a “traditional snow day” which will force the district to

Jefferson City School District off again Thursday as intense cold lingers in Mid-Missouri

February 19, 2025 7:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A number of school districts have called off class again for Thursday as intense cold will still impact the area on Thursday. Several inches of snow fell throughout Mid-Missouri on Tuesday. Wind chills by daybreak on Thursday is expected to be around minus 15 degrees and 20 below zero. The Jefferson City

Columbia Public Schools, Jefferson City School District not in session on Tuesday

February 17, 2025 5:19 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will not be in session on Tuesday. A district spokesperson wrote on social media that Tuesday will be a day for alternative methods of instruction for students. Tuesday is the last AMI day that can be used by the school district before having to make up class hours over

Area schools on snow routes, call off classes for Thursday

February 12, 2025 7:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A number of area schools will still be impacted by weather conditions on Thursday. The Jefferson City School District wrote in an email that it will be in session, but it’s morning bus routes in Callaway County will be on their snow routes. The Southern Boone School District will also be on

Columbia Public Schools, Jefferson City School District among several districts canceling Wednesday classes for snow

February 11, 2025 4:40 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will not be in session Wednesday with a snowstorm expected to dump several inches of snow on Mid-Missouri. CPS sent out alerts to parents at about 4:30 p.m. saying classes would be canceled and students would be expected to study “alternative methods of instruction.” CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark wrote

Columbia Board of Education picks name for new elementary school

February 10, 2025 9:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Monday night voted on a name for its new elementary school. Eagle Bluffs Elementary School was the name that was unanimously picked by the board. The school will be built near John Warner Middle School on Sinclair Road. Officials have said that the school is expected

Columbia school bus involved in crash near Midway

February 6, 2025 4:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) No injuries were reported Thursday afternoon after a Columbia Public Schools bus was involved in a multi-vehicle crash. The crash occurred on Highway 40 near Rollingwood Boulevard in the Midway area. Gale Blomenkamp, of the Boone County Fire Protection District, and CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark told ABC 17 News that there were

Trump administration drafting executive order to initiate Department of Education’s elimination

February 4, 2025 10:44 AM CNN Newsource

By Alayna Treene and Katie Lobosco, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration has begun drafting an executive order that would kick off the process of eliminating the Department of Education, the latest move by President Donald Trump to swiftly carry out his campaign promises, two sources familiar with the plans told CNN. The move would

Flu outbreak causes Climax Springs Schools to use AMI day on Friday

January 30, 2025 4:51 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A significant portion of the student population at a Camden County school has caused it to call off in-person classes on Friday. The Climax Springs R-4 School District will have its fourth AMI day after about 30% of its 186 students are experiencing flu-like symptoms, a school official said on Thursday. The

Boonville student arrested, another brought to hospital following assault in school parking lot

January 28, 2025 5:22 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boonville High School student was arrested after they allegedly assaulted another student in the school’s parking lot, Boonville police wrote in a Tuesday afternoon social media. Police wrote that that they were called at 3 p.m. to help the school’s resource officer respond to an assault. Two students were allegedly fighting

Jefferson City School District parent unhappy with bus service in wintry weather

January 22, 2025 1:38 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Some parents are asking the Jefferson City School District to communicate with them after weather-related bus delays that left some students stranded and parents stressed. The Jefferson City School District initially called for a two-hour delay Tuesday due to weather. This delay was extended to a cancellation as the school’s bus

Nashville high school shooter posted online writings and partially livestreamed attack, social media posts show

January 22, 2025 12:02 PM CNN Newsource

By Karina Tsui, Chris Boyette, Caroll Alvarado, Taylor Galgano and Dalia Faheid, CNN (CNN) — Law enforcement officials seeking a motive for a shooting at Nashville’s Antioch High School on Wednesday morning are examining alarming social media posts and writings tied to a teenager police say shot and killed a 16-year-old girl. The shooter, identified

Former Columbia superintendent was finalist at Kansas school district; school picks other candidate

January 21, 2025 4:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood was a finalist to lead another school district. Garden City Public Schools in Garden City, Kansas, shared on its Facebook page on Sunday that Yearwood is one-of-two candidates up for the superintendent job. A short description on its page does not directly mention Columbia Public

Frigid cold leads to area schools to call off Tuesday classes; Columbia Public Schools to have late start

January 20, 2025 4:10 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Dangerously cold temperatures have led to a number of area schools to either call off classes on Tuesday or have a late start. Overnight wind chills in parts of Mid-Missouri are expected to hit minus-20 degrees, according to the ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team, who issued a Weather Alert Day for

LU Board of Curators approves roughly 10% increases for rooms, 4% increase in meal plans for next school year

January 16, 2025 4:51 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Lincoln University Board of Curators in Jefferson City approved an increase on Thursday to room and board for the 2025-26 school year. The price of most dorm rooms around campus will increases around 9-10%, though there are some exceptions. Rooms with private bathrooms will see a 5.3% increase, while single rooms

Columbia Board of Education reviews $73.6 million Schneider Electric Plant expansion proposal

January 13, 2025 5:24 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved a representative from the board to vote in favor of a tax abatement project for an electric plant during Monday night’s meeting. Prior to the meeting, the district’s financial committee recommended that the board vote in favor of a Chapter 100 bond project, for Schneider

22 people apply for open CPS superintendent position

January 13, 2025 7:21 PM Ryan Shiner, Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) There are 22 applicants for the open superintendent position at Columbia Public Schools, the Missouri Schools Boards’ Association shared during a presentation at Monday Night’s Board of Education meeting. CPS has been in search of a new superintendent since the district announced in November that Brian Yearwood would step down. The district

Mid-Missouri schools juggle snow days, AMI plans amid winter weather

January 10, 2025 7:30 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mid-Missouri schools were impacted this week by winter weather and poor road conditions. A number of schools called off class, while others chose to partake in alternative methods. Missouri law requires public school districts and charter schools to provide a minimum of 1,044 instructional hours each school year, but with winter weather

Columbia Public Schools seeks feedback on next superintendent at in-person sessions

January 8, 2025 4:08 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools hosted three in-person sessions on Wednesday to gather feedback on what the community would like to see in its next superintendent. The public forums were held at Rock Bridge, Hickman and Battle high schools with a final session scheduled at the Douglass High School media center at 12:15 p.m.