Education Archives

Missouri schools and law enforcement agencies lack requirements for active shooter drills

October 16, 2025 4:47 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Despite the growing number of school shootings in the United States, many Missouri school districts and law enforcement agencies lack standardized requirements for active shooter drills. In Missouri, teachers are required to participate in simulated active-shooter drills under the state’s ASIRT statute. However, broader safety training, such as how to identify threats or

CID hopes downtown Columbia maintains historic character as MU seeks developers for entertainment district

October 16, 2025 7:49 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBI, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri is looking for developers interested in helping create a new entertainment and hospitality district on campus a project aimed at boosting the local economy and enhancing the gameday experience for fans. The university said its goal is to create an experience similar to the University of Tennessee and

Hallsville schools staff members resign after month on leave for Charlie Kirk posts

October 16, 2025 11:41 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Two Hallsville School District staff members have resigned from the district after a month of paid leave over posts they shared about Charlie Kirk’s death. Anthony Plogger and Kayla Lewis were suspended with pay for sharing posts about Kirk from a page called “So Informed.” The post expressed a lack of

31 fans ejected from Mizzou-Alabama game, season total sits at 94

October 16, 2025 4:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A season-high 31 fans were ejected from Memorial Stadium during the Tigers’ game against Alabama this past Saturday. That brings the total number of attendees thrown out of the stadium this year to 94. Of the total from this past week’s game, 26 were alcohol-related. Ejection cards indicate 14 people were tossed

University of Missouri seeks developers for on-campus entertainment district

October 16, 2025 5:48 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators is seeking to attract developers for an entertainment and hospitality district on campus to enhance the university’s offerings. The university aims to build on the momentum of the current renovations of Memorial Stadium and continue its goal to enhance the game-day experience for fans. The

New law requires Missouri students to participate in active shooter drills

October 15, 2025 3:23 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A school safety package that Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law this year requires students to participate in active school shooter drills starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Before Senate Bill 68 took effect in August, school district staff were only required to participate in active shooter drills. While the new law

Former William Woods employee sues school for disability discrimination

October 15, 2025 3:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former sports information director at a Fulton college has sued the school in federal court. A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the Western District Court of Missouri accuses William Woods University of disability discrimination and retaliation. The petition alleges John Roushkolb was hired as a sports information director for the

Columbia Public Schools weighing how to spend $9 million from Ameren settlement

October 14, 2025 7:20 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is considering how to use a one-time $9 million payment it received from Boone County after a property-tax settlement with Ameren Missouri. Boone County Commissioner Kip Kendrick said the county reached a resolution earlier this year in a long-running dispute before the Missouri State Tax Commission. The agreement resolved

Columbia Board of Education advocates for superintendent payout cap

October 13, 2025 4:01 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education is advocating to change a state law. During its Monday night meeting, board members discussed their 2025-26 legislative priorities, one of which had to do with superintendent payouts. CPS is now advocating to change the state law, making it so that superintendents are paid no more than

Relief, concern in Mid-Missouri after Gaza peace deal

October 13, 2025 6:55 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) President Donald Trump and other world leaders gathered Monday to sign a Middle East peace deal, bringing relief and hopeful reactions to local groups in Mid-Missouri. George Smith, with Mid-Missouri for Justice in Palestine, is relieved but also concerned following the recent peace deal. “It’s a relief to have the actual genocide

CPS addresses removing AMI days at board meeting

October 13, 2025 7:57 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will no longer use alternative methods of instruction for inclement weather days following recent changes to state law. The Columbia Board of Education addressed the recent changes during its meeting on Monday. The district announced the change in an email to families on Oct. 10, stating that new state

Columbia College launches tuition program for military students amid government shutdown

October 13, 2025 11:41 AM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As the federal government shutdown nears the two-week mark, Columbia College is stepping in to support military students by launching a tuition assistance program. The college announced the creation of the “You Stand For Us, We Stand By You” program in a news release on Monday. The release states that the program

Weapon detection could expand to more CPS events

October 13, 2025 12:51 PM Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is working to strengthen safety by expanding the use of weapons detection systems across campuses and major district events. Weapon detection use is being considered at more extracurricular activities and athletic events, according to CPS documents. This year, all high school dances will include weapons screening. CPS first rolled

Columbia residents split on increased police presence downtown

October 12, 2025 5:32 AM Marie Moyer

Saturday marked the second weekend of an increased police presence in downtown Columbia that followed the September shooting that killed Stephen’s College student Aiyanna Williams.

Columbia mayor proposes student advisory council amid downtown safety concerns

October 10, 2025 7:53 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After walking back a proposal for a downtown task force, the City of Columbia is now considering forming a new advisory council made up of local college students. The original task force proposal came at the request of University of Missouri System President Mun Choi, following the Sept. 27 shooting death of

Columbia Public Schools will no longer use AMI days

October 10, 2025 8:44 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will no longer use alternative methods of instruction, the district wrote in an email to families on Friday night. The email – provided to ABC 17 News by a district spokesperson and Board President John Lyman – says that the district will not need to use AMI days for

SEC Nation returns ahead of Mizzou’s Top 25 match up against Alabama

October 10, 2025 5:27 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) SEC Nation made its return to Columbia, as the 14th-ranked Mizzou Tigers gear up to take on the 8th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at 11 a.m. Saturday. SEC Nation will be set up at the Walsworth Plaza in front of Mizzou Arena on Champions Drive. This is the second time the University of

University of Missouri union workers call on Choi to rescind statements in Sept. 16 email

October 9, 2025 3:55 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) LiUNA Local 955 members are calling for University of Missouri System President Mun Choi to rescind comments in an email warning staff about free expression and make it clear that conversations and statements around wages, benefits and working conditions are protected speech. LiUNA Local 955 represents service and maintenance workers throughout the

Several MU parents voice concerns and call for plan of action from the university, records show

October 8, 2025 7:02 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Several parents of University of Missouri students are growing worried about sending their children off to school in Columbia, records show. Email records obtained by ABC 17 News show several parents have reached out to UM System President Mun Choi in the wake of a deadly downtown shooting. Stephens College student Aiyanna

Job Point seeks permission to build Boone County charter school

October 8, 2025 2:56 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Employment and education center Job Point hopes to establish a charter school in Boone County. The organization has submitted a letter of intent to the state-run Missouri Charter Public School Commission, which will be voted on Thursday. If approved, Job Point will be invited to apply to establish a charter school. Job