CPS to move summer school online

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools leaders discussed holding summer school online during a work session Thursday morning.

CPS Superintendent Peter Stiepleman outlined that summer school would go virtual between June and August. He included students could use the program for credit recovery in June and July, as well as credit advancement in June.

ABC 17 spoke with Michelle Baumstark with CPS who says the district is working hard to accommodate the 9,200 students that she says typically take advantage of the summer programs offered by the schools.

Stiepleman added summer school would be voluntary in August and that it could include in-person classes. He said the August session would only be available for elementary and middle school students.

Michelle Baumstark also spoke about the possibility of seeing some in-person classes in the fall. Baumstark says that this modified system would happen the first two weeks of August.

She went on to say that at this point the district is simply exploring the possibility of this in August.

The superintendent also said the plans are tentative and may change.

Baumstark went on to talk about plans for online courses in May. She says the Columbia Public Schools Foundation has provided the funding to offer several online summer classes for high school students that begin in May.

She said that information regarding these sessions were sent out to families a few days ago, and the district has already filled every spot.

The district also announced their plans for graduation, saying it will be a hybrid ceremony. Students will have the opportunity to receive their diplomas in front of their families, there will also be a virtual commencement held as well.

The school district said it has also looked at alterntive scenarios for prom but no decisions had been made as of Thursday.