Columbia Public Schools addresses growing enrollment

Columbia Public Schools’ long-range facilities planning committee met Thursday afternoon to address the number of students enrolled versus the space the schools actually have.

At the meeting, the committee discussed a draft version of a bond issue, which could allow for expansion of some of the district’s buildings in January.

“We’ll start having that conversation at the finance committee in December, that will then come before the board in December,” Columbia school board member Jonathan Sessions said. “We’ll start the discussion and in the December board meeting we’ll then look towards authorizing it and placing it on the ballot.”

The committee also talked about changes that need to be made to the district’s boundaries. Leaders pointed out how this year’s kindergarten class is the largest one the district has ever had, and that more high school students are moving south, which impacts Rock Bridge High School.

The finance committee is scheduled to meet on Dec. 6 at 4:30 p.m.