Columbia Public Schools to return to in-person hybrid learning Tuesday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public School students are returning to the classroom in a hybrid learning model Tuesday morning.

A steady flow of cars was seen pulling into Mill Creek Elementary Tuesday morning. Even with a constant stream of vehicles, no backups were caused outside of the school which has seen traffic problems in the past.

Watch playback video from the scene in the player below.

The Columbia Board of Education voted to send pre-K and elementary students back to school in a hybrid model, learning in-person four days a week. Middle and high school students will be online two days per week and in class two days per week.

This is the first time middle and high school students will be learning in-person since last spring, while elementary students moved in-person for a short period in the fall.

Superintendent, Dr. Peter Stiepleman, said in an interview on ABC 17 News This Morning on Jan. 11, masks will be required for students and staff returning to the classroom.

As of Tuesday, the CPS 14 day case tracker recorded 82.3 cases per 10,000 people.

Last year CPS said any number above 50 cases per 10,000 would have the district consider an online-only model.

CPS teacher Katie Ann Sipho told ABC 17 News she expected teachers to be vaccinated against coronavirus before returning in-person again.

Teachers are some of the essential workers listed in Phase 1B of the state's vaccination plan which started Monday.

The state said there aren't enough vaccines right now for the entire Phase 1B group but when more supplies become available it will allow for more vaccine coverage.

The school board also passed a resolution urging the state to add other school employees to Phase 1B.