• The district has grown to more than 17, 400 students
• The number of students receiving free and reduced-priced lunch has increased by 15% in two years, now totaling more than 6, 100 students
• More than 2, 300 special education students are served by the district
• More than 600 Limited English Proficiency students are served, an increase of 25% in two years
• Over 50 languages are spoken by children in CPS

As we embrace the diversity present in our schools and continue to work together, our schools will continue to succeed!

- What is/should be the role of arts in education?

(for more information on Art Education, see the “Arts Blog”)

- How will you benefit the community in your actions of being the candidate that will truly do what he says he will do?

- What are your thoughts about Merit pay?  How do you envision this implementation?

- What should schools do to engage and empower parents?

- Should teacher performance and a student’s performance on a test be evaluated the same and tied to a teachers pay?

- What ways as a school board member can you help to increase parent involvement in our schools?

- If President Obama desires to address children in our federally funded public schools would you support or oppose?

- How do you feel about teachers being allowed to vote for exclusive representation to be represented at the bargaining table?

- What can we do to reduce class sizes in elementary schools?

- With the Race to the Top at the forefront of the national government, what are your opinions on this?

- How will you work to improve the foods our children are served in schools?

- What are your plans for meeting the occupancy demands of the schools?  Maintenance also?

- Many people say what we want to hear but when elected things change.  How about you?

- What role do you think the school board should play with curriculum?

- Do you bring any specific agenda with you to the Board of Education?

- What do you consider the greatest strength of CPS and the greatest challenge for CPS?

- How do you plan to address the financial strain on the district in the coming years?

Please RSVP by email to Lind Chickos by Friday, November 20.  She can be reached at lchickos@columbia.k12.mo.us.

Two policies have been proposed to the board by the Circles Initiative in response to confusion over the procedures used by different schools in deciding whether or not to show President Obama’s recent address to school children. These policies reflect concerns raised by parents involved in the Circles Initiative. The Circles Initiative has the two goals of building relationships across race and class lines and looking at the root causes of poverty in our community. We would like your thoughts, comments, and questions, whether those are about the substance or wording of the policies themselves, the need for a policy generally, or other thoughts you want to share. The two policies are set forth below.

Policy On Future Addresses: As constitutionally elected by the people and procedures of the United States, the President of the United States, when he directs his remarks specifically to the school children of the United States has an important role to play in the education of our children both as students and future citizens.

It is the policy of the Board of Education of the Columbia Public Schools that when the President specifically addresses our school children, that address will be aired in every classroom and auditorium where the children may be gathered during that hour.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed to prevent the parent or legal guardian of each child from notifying the school district and building principal that their child will not participate. In that instance, an alternative activity will be made available for that child.

Policy on Days of Service: The President of the United States has designated two days as days of National Service and or Remembrance, Martin Luther King’s Birthday in January and September 11.

When those days do not fall on a regularly schedule day of classroom instruction, the Board of Education of the Columbia Public Schools has adopted as District policy that those days will be designated as recognized CPS Days of Service. The Board will encourage and invite parents, students, school patrons and community members to join with them in organizing National Service Days with projects that encourage our CPS children to serve with other students, adults, parents, seniors and persons with disabilities for the common good of our community.