Education Archives

MU Health Care announces layoffs, closure of Hy-Vee quick care clinics as part of ‘organizational redesign’

June 17, 2026 2:51 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) MU Health Care on Wednesday announced that it has laid off 74 employees as part of an “organizational redesign.” In a Wednesday afternoon press release, MU Health Care claimed the reduction in workforce, along with an adjustment of benefits, will “help strengthen the health system’s long-term financial sustainability, improve operational performance and

Stacey Preis named interim education commissioner

June 15, 2026 8:55 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Board of Education has appointed Stacey Preis as its interim commissioner of education, according to a Monday press release. The release says she has 18 years in educational leadership, student achievement initiatives and statewide education policy. She was the deputy commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Mizzou Athletics announces new concessions vendor

June 11, 2026 6:24 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mizzou Athletics will have a new concessions vendor this upcoming school year for all of its sports and athletic venues. The athletic department announced in a Thursday morning press release that it has picked Sodexo Live! as its new hospitality partner. The release from MU claims Sodexo will use local food partners.

Catholic schools leader departure prompts Diocese of Jefferson City search

June 11, 2026 10:57 AM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The head of Mid-Missouri’s Catholic schools is taking a new job in Kansas, opening up a national search by the Diocese of Jefferson City for her replacement. The diocese announced on Thursday morning that superintendent Erin Vader will become the new head of Catholic schools in the Kansas City, Kansas diocese.

Mizzou Arena floor replacement to cost $907,500

June 9, 2026 6:02 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The floor replacement at Mizzou Arena will cost the University of Missouri $907,500, according to the contract for the winning bid. The contract – which was obtained by ABC 17 News on Tuesday through a records request – was awarded to and signed by Reinhardt Construction LLC on Feb. 17, 2026. The

Woman charged with murder in MU student’s death to remain committed to Department of Mental Health, has hearing set for January 2027

June 9, 2026 4:13 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who is accused of killing a University of Missouri student and burning his body in 2023 is still not mentally fit to stand trial, according court documents filed on Monday. Emma Adams, 24, of Columbia, is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence and abandoning a corpse

Columbia Board of Education passes 2026-27 budget

June 8, 2026 10:19 PM Ryan Shiner

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

Columbia Public Schools back in court for charter school fight

June 8, 2026 11:09 AM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will return to Cole County court on Monday as the months-long legal battle over charter schools in Boone County continues. CPS filed the suit in December after the charter school, Frontier, announced a plan to establish a charter school in the county. The application was later approved by

Columbia Public Schools to dip into reserves to cover deficit spending

June 3, 2026 7:58 PM Mitchell Kaminski

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%

Columbia Public Schools, Jefferson City School District have more than 90% of buses approved in annual MSHP inspections

June 3, 2026 7:17 PM Ryan Shiner

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”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library cannot accept new enrollees in Missouri amid state budget cuts

June 3, 2026 6:27 PM Ryan Shiner

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

Missouri Board of Education president steps down

June 2, 2026 7:55 PM Ryan Shiner

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

Guardian of disabled student makes claims of discrimination, assault in lawsuit against Russellville School District

June 2, 2026 4:46 PM Ryan Shiner

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.

Over 9,000 Columbia Public Schools students attend summer school

June 1, 2026 3:35 PM Ryan Shiner

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

CPS names new Hickman principal

May 29, 2026 6:46 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools announced in a Friday press release that Virginia Tate has been picked to become Hickman High School’s next principal. Tate is the assistant principal at Rock Bridge High School. She replaces Mary Grupe, who is taking a job at the district’s central office. The release says Tate has more

Bunceton school board member pleads guilty to scamming district out of $385k

May 21, 2026 7:53 PM Ryan Shiner

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

MU Curators approve 4% tuition increase for undergrads

May 21, 2026 4:49 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators approved a 4% increase for undergraduate tuition for next school year during a Thursday afternoon meeting. The increase is for all four of its campuses. A 3% increase was approved for its graduate programs. The increases will range from $16.50 per credit hour at the

Columbia Public Schools to hold graduation ceremonies Friday, Saturday

May 20, 2026 6:26 PM Ryan Shiner

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

University of Missouri curators to vote on tuition increase

May 20, 2026 11:11 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators is expected to vote Thursday on a 4% across-the-board tuition increase for undergraduate courses at the system’s four campuses. The increases will range from $16.50 per credit hour at UMKC to $21 at UMSL. The Columbia campus would see a $19.11-per-credit-hour increase if the curators

Traffic impacts expected as University of Missouri graduation weekend continues

May 16, 2026 7:19 AM Marie Moyer

University of Missouri commencement ceremonies are set to continue through the weekend as nearly 6,000 students have earned degrees.

The majority of ceremonies are taking place on Saturday in Jesse Auditorium and Mizzou Arena: