Case rates decline but substitute pool still an issue for Columbia Public Schools
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia Public Schools still lacks the number of substitute teachers willing to come into the classrooms that it needs as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the pool for substitute teachers is large but that number is deceptive.
As of Wednesday, CPS was only able to fill about 60% of the needed substitute slots, which is down from 65% the week before. All district students returned to classrooms on Jan. 19. Middle and high school students had been learning virtually since last March.
Brent Ghan for the Missouri School Board Association said the substitute teacher shortage has been a major reason why some school districts have had to do online instructions.
JEFFERSON CITY - A pre-filed bill for the 2021 Missouri General Assembly legislative session would give parents or legal guardians of students with special needs the ability to record IEP or 504 meetings.
House Bill 228, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Basye, would prohibit schools from preventing the recording of these meetings.
The bill also makes the recording the property of the parent or legal guardian of the student.
Individualized Education Program meetings happen at least once each year between parents, teachers, district officials and specialists, according to Michelle Ribaudo of Missouri Disability Empowerment, or MoDE. The IEP is a backbone of a child s education, Ribaudo said. They ll have actual goals, actual accommodations.