A transportation program evaluation will be presented at the Columbia School Board’s meeting Monday.
Columbia Public Schools’ Transportation Department puts together a program evaluation every other year. The evaluation will include updates on the percentage of buses arriving and departing on time, the efficiency of bus routes, the average time students spend on the bus, accident rates and driver turnover rates.
The presentation will also include a communication plan for DS Bus Lines Inc., the district’s new transportation partner starting next school year.
In February, the school board voted to sign a three-year contract with DS Bus Lines Inc. starting in August 2025, ending the district’s near-decadelong partnership with Student Transportation of America.
Achievement update
Chief Academic Officer Jeff Klein will present results from fall i-Ready assessments as part of an update on the district’s Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
The i-Ready results will show the percentage of students who are proficient or advanced from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Klein’s presentation will also include attendance and discipline data from this school year.
CSIP is a five-year plan focused on establishing positive relationships with students, improving core instruction and implementing the district’s instructional framework for schools.
The plan aims to improve attendance, increase MAP assessment scores, improve teacher retention and decrease out-of-school suspensions.
Budget amendments
The board will vote on several amendments to the district’s budget for this fiscal year.
One proposed amendment would increase the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) expenditures budget by $1 million.
Other amendments would increase federal revenue and grant expenditures by $500,000 each.
Refunding bonds
The board will vote on a resolution to sell more than $41.5 million in general obligation refunding bonds.
The sale will refinance a part of the district’s general obligation bonds from 2014 and 2015.
Piper Sandler, the district’s financial adviser, said the district can expect $2.8 million in interest savings from the sale.
This is the next step in the district’s plan to achieve interest savings after approving a go-to-market resolution at the board’s September meeting.
Construction agreements
The board will vote to approve five construction projects, which will be funded by the district’s special maintenance or capital projects funds.
The considered projects include a playground addition for Battle Elementary School, roof replacement services for Benton and West Boulevard elementary schools, design renovations for Roseta Avenue Learning Center, and flooring and loading dock replacements for West Middle School.
If approved, the projects would total $369,000.
Legislative priorities
The board will vote on its legislative priorities for this school year.
In its September meeting, the board discussed the continued importance of addressing internet access and reliability. The proposed priorities also include allotting funding toward recruiting and retaining teachers, summer school and school bus transportation.
Special recognition
The board will recognize its staff of the month early in the meeting:
- Gabby Stanley from Alpha Hart Elementary School
- Eryn Day from Eliot Battle Elementary School
- Joshua Myers from John Warner Middle School
- Lacey Wright from New Haven Elementary School
- Kelly Green from Paxton Keeley Elementary School
- Michele Winter from Smithton Middle School
Two EduStaff substitutes will also be recognized as substitutes of the month:
- Kathy Appleton
- Alexia Johnson
How to watch
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Aslin Administration Building, 1818 W. Worley St. A livestream is available on CPS-TV, which can be viewed on the district’s website and through Mediacom, Spectrum, Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV.
