K-12 Education

The Columbia School Board passed the 2012-13 school year budget parameters in a 6-1 vote Monday night. 

The case is one of at least four stemming from a state law requiring unaccredited districts to pay to send students living within their boundaries to accredited schools.

The Columbia School Board will meet despite weather-related school closures. The agenda includes votes on school attendance boundaries, budget parameters, bond sales and funding for air conditioning in elementary schools.

In response to the growing need for teachers certified in special education, foreign language, industrial technology and high school math and science, Fort Zumwalt started a program in which it promises high school students jobs and financial assistance with college if they return to teach one of those subjects. 

To balance student enrollment numbers and demographics, proposed Columbia Public Schools' boundary Approach B has students who live within walking distance of Hickman High School attending Rock Bridge High School beginning in fall 2013.

The Columbia Aeronautics and Space Association's 24th annual space flight simulation took place at Hickman High School. Students participating in the CASA simulation experienced what it is like to work on a NASA space shuttle flight.

The Columbia School Board will vote on Scenario B for secondary attendance boundaries at its meeting tonight.

Walsh's presentation Thursday gave parents advice on nurturing infants, keeping their children healthy and teaching them effectively.

At the second day of the Missouri Law Review Symposium named "Cyberbullying: Emerging Realities and Legal Challenges," three experts shared the effects of cyberbullying on youth.

The federal government is allowing states to be exempted from some of the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Law.

At his lecture, John Palfrey said concerns about the safety of children tend to drown out positive aspects of use of the Internet by youth.

Ten states received federal approval to follow their individual plans to improve education. They will no longer have to meet the 2014 deadline for improving students' reading and math skills.

Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School has raised enough money to cover the costs of the new school building. Now, it looks to build enrollment and raise more support to cover operating costs in the future.

David Walsh's presentation will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Smithton Middle School. His presentation will give parents practical strategies based on brain science for working with their children. 

Candidates Rex Cone, Paul Cushing, Melvin Blase and incumbent Christine King are still running for two open slots on the Columbia School Board. The election will be Tuesday, April 3.

Nischelle Turner grew up in Columbia and graduated from Rock Bridge High School and MU. In December, she took a job with CNN's "Showbiz Tonight" and now works in studios and on red carpets, interviewing actors, singers and other celebrities.

Cape Girardeau High School's Matthew Hale and Oakland Junior High School's Jacob Sirna have been chosen as assistant principals at Muriel Williams Battle High School. Hale will also be the athletics director.

The legislation would allow school districts to lease advertisements on the interior and exterior of school buses. A portion of the advertising revenue would pay for student transportation.

Award-winning storyteller Gladys Coggswell came to Columbia elementary schools as part of a new exhibit, "Black Women in Art and the Stories They Tell."