CPS Board of Education set to discuss more students returning to the classroom

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Public Schools Board of Education will discuss allowing both middle and high school students to return to the classroom within the next month.

The board is scheduled to meet Monday. Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman will recommend that the board directs administration to teach middle school students in person, four days a week.

Middle school students would be brought back to the classroom on Nov. 30.

The same recommendation is being made for high school students, with the board expected to ask that those students return on Dec. 7.

This, as the district's 14-day COVID-19 case rate has surged to 76.5 cases per 10,000 people.

The district has said previously that any number above 50 would make the board consider returning all students to online learning.

The district passed that threshold on Wednesday.

Rebecca Shaw, a parent of a student in CPS said that after seeing COVID-19 spread through CPS she's glad her child is enrolled virtually.

"We have been very glad that we chose virtual," Shaw added.

She said she thinks CPS is trying to do everything they can when it comes to safety measures but still believes there's room for improvement.

One thing Shaw would like to see the district implement is plexiglass dividers between desks.