Education Archives

Columbia Public Schools set to return to full time in-person learning

April 4, 2021 5:28 AM Ben Fein

The Columbia Board of Education voted unanimously to return most students to the classroom five days a week in March.

MU student in critical condition after nearly drowning in Florida

March 31, 2021 9:43 PM ABC 17 News Team

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fl. (KMIZ) A University of Missouri student is in critical condition after nearly drowning. Police in Panama City Beach Florida reports Joseph Pedrotti is being treated at a local hospital. According to police, the MU student was doing laps at a pool when friends noticed he had stopped swimming. First responders performed

Locals enjoy downtown as university students are away on spring break

March 31, 2021 4:26 PM Victoria Bragg

COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ) The University of Missouri is on spring break this week, and local residents are able to enjoy what downtown Columbia has to offer with fewer students out. The streets of downtown Columbia are quieter than usual as many university students left campus for spring break. Local bars and restaurants say more residents

TUESDAY UPDATES: White House state profile shows number of Missouri coronavirus cases up 12 percent

March 30, 2021 9:59 AM ABC 17 News Team

The latest White House state profile shows that cases are on a steady rise in parts of Missouri. Missouri State Profile ReportDownload Last week Missouri’s health department reported more than 4,922 new cases, which is up 12 percent from the previous week. A Maries County has returned to the red zone for community transmission. Boone,

Spring break begins for MU students as COVID-19 cases remain low

March 27, 2021 5:42 AM Ben Fein

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Spring break started Saturday for students at the University of Missouri. The university will not require students living on campus to be tested when they return, like the school did for winter break. MU spokesman Christian Basi said low case numbers and timing were some of the factors that played a role

FRIDAY UPDATES: Columbia Public Schools Foundation donates 100,000 child-size masks for students

March 26, 2021 9:24 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC 17 News COVID-19 roundtable discussion with MU Chancellor and Columbia Chamber of Commerce president

March 25, 2021 9:25 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) You’ve heard this week from local businesses in Columbia after some COVID-19 restrictions. Tonight the Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick spoke about the return to the business as usual. The University of Missouri is also about a day away from the start of its spring break. MU Chancellor Mun Choi

Lincoln University looking for solutions to enrollment losses

March 25, 2021 11:36 AM Meghan Drakas

The agenda for Thursday’s 1 p.m. meeting of the Board of Curators Academic/Student Affairs Committee says the committee will discuss actions that can be taken to reverse the trend.

Superintendent of Missouri School for the Deaf resigns

March 25, 2021 4:10 PM Karl Wehmhoener

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri School for the Deaf Superintendent George Stailey resigned from the position last Friday. The assistant superintendent, Chris Daily, is now the interim superintendent through the completion of Extended School Year. Officials with the school board and DESES now working to determine the most appropriate plans for MSD leadership moving forward.

MU will not require coronavirus tests for students after spring break

March 25, 2021 11:58 AM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri says it will not be able to test all students living on campus after they return from spring break because of time limitations. MU required students living on campus to test negative at the beginning of the semester. MU spokesman Christian Basi said MU was able to do

Bird Scooters are heading back to Columbia as soon as April 1st

March 24, 2021 3:57 PM Connor Hirsch

The Columbia City Council approved an agreement with Bird Ride, Inc. and the University of Missouri to bring the dockless scooters back to the city on March 15.

Lincoln University enrollment down 41% over the last 9 years

March 24, 2021 2:17 PM Meghan Drakas

During the Lincoln University Board of Curators meeting on Tuesday, the school’s governing body said enrollment has declined 41% in the following nine years.

Columbia Public Schools reaches settlement with family over the use of seclusion rooms

March 23, 2021 8:37 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A settlement has been reached between Columbia Public Schools and the family of a student over the use of seclusion rooms. The district agreed to pay a family $20,000 over claims administrators at Beulah Ralph Elementary School put a child in a room for several hours as punishment. CPS denied it did

Updated CDC guidance says 3 feet of distancing is safe in schools

March 20, 2021 7:06 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortened its physical distancing guidelines for children in schools to recommend most students maintain at least 3 feet of distance. The CDC had previously said schools should try to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between children. This change comes after a new study

Sturgeon R-V School District announces next superintendent

March 19, 2021 5:59 PM Karl Wehmhoener

STURGEON, Mo. (KMIZ) Sturgeon R-V School District announced Dr. Melia Franklin as their next superintendent. Franklin currently works for the Ozark School District as the executive director of secondary learning and has been there since 2016. Franklin said she is thrilled to join the district and looks forward to meeting teachers, staff, parents, students and

Columbia Board of Education looking to address over-enrollment at area schools

March 19, 2021 8:22 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education and Columbia Public Schools want to address over-enrollment at area schools. Phase 1 will address Parkade Elementary School’s attendance area as enrollment is currently overcapacity. Phase 1 changes will be implemented this fall. Phase 2 will address the remaining elementary attendance areas with implementation planned for 2022-23.

FRIDAY UPDATES: Over 1,700 vaccinated during Cole County vaccination event

March 19, 2021 9:29 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase 2 activation extends vaccine eligibility to those 'essential for economic recovery.'

Cole County holding mass coronavirus vaccine event Friday

March 18, 2021 9:12 PM ABC 17 News Team

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A mass vaccine event will be held tomorrow in Cole County. The event will be held at The Linc in Jefferson City from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. It’s a walkthrough clinic with the Pfizer vaccine The director of the Cole County health department said there were still appointments available. The

Gov. Parson announces two appointments to the University of Missouri board of curators

March 18, 2021 7:46 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson announced two appointments to the University of Missouri Board of Curators. The appointments will be submitted to the Missouri Senate on Monday upon return from the legislative spring break. The current board members will continue to serve on expired terms until their successors are confirmed. Todd P. Graves,

BBB warns of standardized test prep scams

March 18, 2021 1:50 PM Zola Crowder

The Better Business Bureau is warning parents to watch out for ACT and SAT test prep scams.