Education Archives

Columbia voters pass $80 million school bond issue by a landslide

April 6, 2022 2:07 PM Chanel Porter

17,724 voters in Columbia voted in favor of an $80 million bond issue to fund the construction of a new $25 million elementary school in south Columbia.

Waters and Willoughby win the seats on the Columbia Board of Education

April 5, 2022 2:58 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Suzette Waters and incumbent Blake Willoughby have won seats on the Columbia Board of Education with 100% of precincts reporting. Waters received 12,547 votes and Willoughby got 11,277 votes. Third place, Andrea Lisenby, got 9,493 votes. Waters and Willoughby will each serve three-year terms. Blake Willoughby Blake Willoughby is the only one of

Leonard and Bloemke-Warren win seats on Jefferson City School Board of Education

April 5, 2022 3:05 PM Hannah Falcon

Jefferson City residents are voting on the two open seats on the Jefferson City Board of Education as four candidates make their bids this election day

ELECTION DAY UPDATES: Women win both seats on Jefferson City Board of Education

April 5, 2022 9:35 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the municipal election.

Polls open in Columbia as voters decide on everything from candidates to bond issues

April 5, 2022 7:40 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Election day is on Tuesday for residents who plan to participate in choosing their upcoming community leaders. Polls are open until 7 p.m. Voting begins at the Boone County Government Center Tuesday morning. Columbia Mayoral Candidates A total of four people are running for the spot of Columbia’s next mayor. In September,

Missouri teacher charged with multiple sexual crimes

April 3, 2022 1:01 PM Associated Press

KINGSTON, Mo. (AP) — A former northwest Missouri teacher and coach has been charged with multiple sexual crimes. Online court records show that 29-year-old Zachary Douglas, of Utica, is jailed without bond pending an April 7 hearing on 11 felony and seven misdemeanor counts. The charges were filed in two batches over the past two

High school students’ mental health disproportionally impacted by pandemic

April 1, 2022 5:54 PM Hannah Falcon

New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show high school students have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and even before the pandemic, their mental health has been steadily declining.

Helias Catholic High School placed on lockdown after a threat was made within the school

April 1, 2022 4:06 PM Karl Wehmhoener

The Helias Catholic High School was placed on lockdown just before 12:30 p.m. on Friday after administrators addressed a threat made within the school building.

Missouri attorney general launches reporting platform for divisive lesson plans, school policies

March 30, 2022 7:40 PM Hannah Falcon

Attorney General Eric Schmitt is asking parents to share any “woke” policies or lesson plans with his office through a new reporting platform on his website.

House Committee throws out governor’s plan to raise starting teacher salary

March 28, 2022 8:10 PM Hannah Falcon

In a Monday afternoon budget committee hearing, Chair Rep. Cody Smith, R-Jasper, removed the governor’s proposal to allocate $21.8 million to matching school districts in raising the starting salary for teachers to $38,000.

Missouri standardized tests return to pre-pandemic normal this spring

March 24, 2022 7:38 PM Leila Mitchell

Two years after the pandemic canceled standardized testing for all Missouri students, tests this spring will look similar to a pre-pandemic normal.

JEFFERSON CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION: Anne Bloemke-Warren

March 22, 2022 3:54 PM Matthew Sanders

Anne Bloemke-Warren supports masks as a coronavirus mitigation measure and says Jefferson City School District needs help with diversity.

COLUMBIA BOARD OF EDUCATION: Andrea Lisenby

March 21, 2022 9:02 PM Matthew Sanders

Andrea Lisenby is one of three first-time candidates for the Columbia Board of Education on the ballot April 5.

COLUMBIA BOARD OF EDUCATION: Blake Willoughby

March 21, 2022 8:47 PM Matthew Sanders

Blake Willoughby is seeking his second three-year term on the board of education.

COLUMBIA BOARD OF EDUCATION: Suzette Waters

March 22, 2022 10:39 AM Matthew Sanders

Suzette Waters is one of three people running for a seat on the Columbia Board of Education for the first time this April.

COLUMBIA BOARD OF EDUCATION: Adam Burks

March 22, 2022 3:14 PM Matthew Sanders

Adam Burks is critical of administrators at Columbia Public Schools.

JEFFERSON CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION: Adam Gresham

March 22, 2022 4:59 PM Matthew Sanders

The chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe has his eyes on his own public office.

JEFFERSON CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION: Erika Leonard

March 22, 2022 5:22 PM Matthew Sanders

Erika Leonard is a registered lobbyist and a mother of two Jefferson City School District students.

JEFFERSON CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION: Marc Ellinger

March 23, 2022 4:02 PM Matthew Sanders

Marc Ellinger is a founding partner of the Jefferson City law firm Ellinger and Associates.

Mizzou men’s basketball coach Dennis Gates reflects on what led him to the Tigers

March 22, 2022 4:10 PM Chanel Porter

Dennis Gates was introduced Tuesday afternoon as the 20th head coach for the men’s basketball team at the University of Missouri.