Columbia Board of Education approves budget for 2023-2024 school year

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia board of education unanimously approved a $371 million budget for the 2023-2024 school year.

CPS Chief Financial Officer, Heather McArthur said a portion of the money approved in the budget will go toward the district adding behavior specialists. McArthur also said the district will increase pay for summer school programs and substitute teachers.

$1.6 million will be also be put toward any security projects the district chooses to implement. Safety and Security Director, John White also said that the district is continuing to make improvements to its safety precautions.

Six buildings are on track to get video intercoms installed this summer, which leaves only a few schools that will need to have them installed next summer. White also noted the district will meet with a company next week regarding a weapon detections system being installed in schools across the district. This comes after the district held a demonstration for a weapons detection system in April.

On Monday evening, the Columbia Board of Education also met to swear in its new member Karen Hayes and discussed several topics.

One of those agenda items included an agreement for a student health care center. The agreement included establishing a center that provides care while also addressing academic, social and physical health to help promote student success.

The proposal outlines primary care services provided to students, including:

• Short-term treatment
• Preventative visits
• Sports physicals and vision services
• Free Vaccines through Vaccines for Children
• In-house lab services 
• Documentation of the visit

The board says additional counseling services such as behavioral assessments and evaluations would also be available. 

On Monday evening, the administration also discussed the approval of the fire and life safety educator program with the Columbia Fire Department. The program will have activities for students to increase their knowledge of fire safety. 

The cost of the agreement is $70,742 per fire safety educator. The board says this will be covered by the safety and security operating budget. 

John White also announced he plans to retire after working in the district for 12 years.