RETURN TO LEARN: University of Missouri, Jefferson City Schools hold first day of classes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Students at the University of Missouri will head to their first day of classes Monday.

Ahead of classes, students were required to complete COVID-19 health and safety training and download the app "Campus Clear" to track their symptoms each day.

Watch Return to Learn coverage in the player below.

The university's "Show-Me Renewal" plan said students and instructors will have to wear face coverings in classrooms. There will also be clearly marked entrances and exits in classrooms when possible, smaller class sizes and marked seats to help with social distancing.

Students are asked to monitor their symptoms each day and stay home if they are sick to help prevent any potential spread of COVID-19.

JC Schools return to learn

Jefferson City School District students will return to the classroom for the first time this morning with a mask in-hand.

The school district updated its mask policy on Friday, now requiring all students to wear a mask when unable to socially distance.

Jefferson City Schools held a live conference with many district leaders last week answering many questions that both staff and parents had in regards to the return.

Superintendent Larry Linthacum spoke about the return and said, "we surveyed our staff, we surveyed out families, and overwhelmingly the response was that people were ready to get back to school."

District staff members were told they would receive 10 days of COVID-19 related sick leave and 80 hours of paid emergency sick leave.

Jason Hoffman, JC Schools CFO, mentioned the decrease in class size, saying, "something that is going to help us with our social distancing is that we have about 16 percent of our students signed up for virtual."