K-12 education Archives

One year later: Columbia Board of Education candidates reflect on weapons detection system as district plans safety initiatives

March 27, 2025 7:27 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is approaching one year since installing a weapons detection system to enhance school safety. Now, the district is considering a public service announcement on safe firearm storage, a board resolution and further discussions on educating families about gun safety. CPS purchased 15 weapon detection systems from Communications Technologies Inc.

Columbia Board of Education race: 3 candidates battle for pair of open seats

March 26, 2025 7:58 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Three candidates are vying for a pair of open seats on the Columbia Board of Education. On April 8, Columbia and Boone County voters will decide between current Board President Suzette Waters, Erica Dickson and Ken Rice. Two-term Boardmember Blake Willoughby will not seek reelection. Here is how each candidate stands on some

Proposed bill would require Missouri school districts to display the Ten Commandments

March 25, 2025 11:49 AM Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A hearing was held Tuesday morning by the Senate Education Committee on a proposed bill that would require Missouri school districts and charter schools to display the Ten Commandments in every building and classroom. Senate Bill 594 is sponsored by Sen. Jamie Burger (R-Benton) and would mandate the Ten Commandments to

Principal named for new Columbia elementary school

March 21, 2025 2:19 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools has announced the first principal of Eagle Bluffs Elementary School. Sarah Sicht will be the school’s inaugural principal, the school district announced in a Friday press release. Sicht has worked at CPS for 25 years as a teacher, assessment coach, mentor and most recently as the principal at Benton

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support dismantling the Department of Education?

March 21, 2025 4:01 AM Matthew Sanders

President Donald Trump fulfilled a promise Thursday when he signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. The administration plans to keep a remnant of the department as it’s currently constructed to oversee federal student aid. The plan has drawn strong opposition from educators and members of the public. Doing away with the

Missouri schools face uncertainty after Trump signs order to dismantle Education Department

March 20, 2025 4:12 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Completely shutting down the department would require an act of Congress, which established the agency in 1979. Trump officials admit they lack the votes needed to dissolve it through legislation. The White House argues that

Trump signs executive order to begin dismantling Education Department, raising questions for students and parents

March 20, 2025 1:38 PM CNN Newsource

By Kevin Liptak and Sunlen Serfaty, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to begin dismantling the US Department of Education, seeking to fulfill decades of conservative ambition to get rid of the agency, but raising new questions for the country’s millions of public schools, student-loan holders and parents. No

Columbia Board of Education candidates discuss teacher retention, charter schools during forum

March 18, 2025 3:49 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Erica Dickson, Ken Rice and current Columbia Board of Education President Suzette Waters responded to questions on Tuesday at a candidate forum hosted by the Boone County Unit of the Missouri Retired Teachers and School Personnel. “Our organization has done this for several years and we have a tradition to do this

Missouri School Boards’ Association advises districts spend federal money amid looming Department of Education layoffs

March 13, 2025 12:00 PM Haley Swaino

The Education Department said Tuesday it plans to lay off more than 1,300 employees in an effort to cut its staff in half, according to the Associate Press. This comes in preparation of President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency.

Columbia Board of Education approves new superintendent’s contract

March 10, 2025 4:32 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Editor’s Note: the date of a previous Muleskinners meeting has been corrected. The Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract for its new superintendent, Jeff Klein, during Monday night’s board meeting. The contract sets Klein’s salary at $255,000, which would be paid monthly. His salary can increase by as much

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will Linda McMahon be a good education secretary?

March 4, 2025 4:01 AM Matthew Sanders

The beleaguered U.S. Department of Education has its new leader.

South Park Elementary students to be moved to other Moberly schools Monday as city repairs water main

February 27, 2025 6:42 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Students at South Park Elementary in Moberly will be moved to other schools on Monday. Moberly School District Superintendent Cristina Wright wrote in an email that the city told the district this week that it plans on repairing a water main near the school on Monday. Water to the building will be

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