The Columbia School Board will discuss potential revisions to its public participation policy at its regular meeting Monday.
The School Board’s Policy Committee has made revisions to the policy since October in hopes of clarifying how people may add items to the agenda and sign up for public comment.
In the suggested revisions, the board could limit public comment to three comments per topic as members see fit. Community members who wish to speak at board meetings must register in person, online or by phone no later than noon the day of the meeting. Under the current policy, on the day of the board’s regular meetings, people have until 2 p.m. to sign up for public comment and until 3 p.m. to submit comments in writing, online or over the phone.
The revisions allow the public to send comments in writing to the board and superintendent online through meeting agendas and a portal. Instructions for submitting written comments to board meetings are included in the revisions.
Bond issue vote
The board will vote on whether to approve a formal resolution to issue a bond of $40 million.
In April 2022, voters approved an $80 million school bond issue to be used for new construction. The bond was to be issued in two increments — $40 million in 2022 and $40 million in 2024. At the board’s regular meeting Feb. 12, members voted to approve a go-to-market resolution to issue the second $40 million this spring.
This vote would be the next step in the process. If approved, the board would agree to final terms for issuing the $40 million, including the designation of the district’s paying agent and the terms for selling the bond, according to district documents.
Attendance area realignment update
Chief Operations Officer Randy Gooch will present a three-phrase timeline of the district’s attendance area realignment process. The multi-year process is the result of the creation of new wings at Russell Boulevard and Battle elementary schools, as well as the new elementary school. Gooch will share a 10-year facilities master plan that considers attendance areas, bonds and building improvements.
Gooch will review the district’s new diversity index that it will use to better understand the attendance area demographics as it works on realignment. The index will measure the racial, socioeconomic and educational levels of census block groups across the district. It was created with consultant Woolpert and introduced at the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee meeting March 6.
Finance update
Chief Financial Officer Heather McArthur will present data on the district’s key revenue sources and fixed costs for the 2024-25 budget. The board intends to decide on the revenue estimates that will be used in the budget.
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McArthur will present predicted changes in state funding and tax revenues, review the district’s five-year financial model and address concerns over the future of school funding.
At a Finance Committee meeting March 6, McArthur and other committee members expressed concerns about the prospects of charter schools and open enrollment in Columbia, which she said could take significant funding away from the district.
Special recognition
Battle High School student Macey Hansen will be recognized for winning an individual state championship at the 2024 Girls Swimming & Diving State Championship meet. During preliminaries, Hansen set a new state record for the 500-meter freestyle.
Hickman High School students Luke Hayden and Hank Benter will be recognized for winning individual state championships for wrestling.
The board will also recognize its staff of the month:
- Karen Bostrom-Gregg, Parents as Teachers
- Amanda Kinkead, Cedar Ridge Elementary School
- Samantha Keizer, Derby Ridge Elementary School
- Danielle Johnson, Rock Bridge High School
- Trina Warder, Douglass High School
Two Edustaff substitutes will be recognized as substitutes of the month.
- Emma Burton
- Christopher Porter
How to watch
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Aslin Administration Building, 1818 W. Worley St. It will be livestreamed on CPS-TV, which can be viewed on the district’s website and through CenturyLink, Mediacom, Charter Spectrum, Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV.
Public comment registrations will be accepted online, in person or via phone in advance of board meetings up to 3 p.m. the day of a regularly-scheduled board meeting or 4 p.m. on the working day before a regularly-scheduled work session meeting of the board.