WATCH: 5-day school week up for discussion, CPS superintendent says

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia's Board of Education could discuss a transition to 5-day-a-week, in-person learning in just two weeks.

The superintendent for Columbia Public Schools, Dr. Peter Stiepleman, said he expects to talk about the possible change at the meeting set for March 8.

"You can expect that schools are not going to look as you remember it," Stiepleman said in a live interview on ABC 17 News This Morning on Monday. "At least not right now."

As of Feb. 19, the CPS 14-day COVID-19 case rate was at its lowest since August, sitting at 20.9.

The district is partnering with Boone Hospital Center to vaccinate teachers and staff against COVID-19. As of Feb. 14, just over 18 percent of CPS staff had received a coronavirus vaccine. Only staff who are in Missouri's Phase 1A or 1B, Tiers 1 and 2, are currently eligible for the vaccine.

Additionally, Stiepleman said the district had a planning meeting with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services last week to discuss mass vaccination clinics.

Stiepleman said the groups developed plans for all three CPS high schools to operate as mass vaccination sites, either indoors or outdoors.