Exam

KBIA News brings you Exam, a weekly look at education issues important to mid-Missouri. Formerly known as Education Week. Hosted by Catherine Wolf.

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04/28/08 The Columbia School District's budget is due in June, but there's still much work to be done before then. The board has hosted a number of meetings to determine areas where cuts can be made. At a recent meeting, the board voted to send a proposed budget to district administrators. However, the proposal still predicts a $340,000 deficit for the 2008-2009 school year. KBIA's Kevin Lorenz reports.

In our "Class Dismissed" segment we check in withAmy Sprenger, a third-grade teacher at Southwest Elementary in Jefferson City, to hear what's on her mind at the end of a school day.

04/21/08 Enrollment in online courses continues to grow at area colleges. But students' success in those classes may depend in part on their personality traits. That's the focus of a recent study by an MU professor. KBIA's Martin Winkler reports on the research and what it's like to be an online student.

Every year, The Missouri Council on Public Higher Education honors teachers from each of the state's 15 public four-year universities. The governor recently recognized the nominees at a "Teacher of the Year" award reception. The University of Missouri nominee is Veterinary Medicine Professor Richard Meadows. KBIA's Sean Powers spoke with Meadows about his honor.

04/14/08 The Columbia School District is facing some challenges as it plans for the construction of a new elementary school set to open in August 2009. As KBIA's Christy Millweard reports, members of Columbia's Environment and Energy Commission have raised concerns that the school's proposed design is not as energy efficient as it could be.

A topic up for debate in some education circles is how to most effectively teach students to read and write. KBIA's Mike Moreau recently spoke with an MU professor who has written a book about trends in literacy education, and with a Jefferson City middle school literacy coach about the ongoing discussion.

04/07/08 On today's Exam, we check in with Columbia School District Superintendent Phyllis Chase one day before the April 8 election to talk about the school board race, $5 million in budget cuts and a 54-cent proposed tax levy. We also talked about plans to redraw the boundaries for Columbia elementary schools.

Click here to listen to the full interview with Phyllis Chase.

03/31/08 The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would allow professionals with bachelor's degrees in fields other than teaching to become teachers in a short period of time... students in the Fayette school district will no longer be allowed to bring cell phones into the classroom... and "Class Dismissed," featuring a conversation with Jefferson City's North Elementary first grade teacher Cathy Carter.

View a "Leprechaun Trap" slideshow by clicking one of the following links:
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03/24/08 Parents of students at Grant Elementary in Columbia are concerned about traffic congestion near the school. During drop-off and pickup hours, school traffic and traffic from the neighboring Columbia Public Library makes the intersection of Garth and Broadway very busy. KBIA's Bonnie Thomas looks at how the Columbia school district is working with the city to improve traffic safety.

03/17/08 Not all childhood bullying takes place on the playground anymore. Now, bullying occurs on the Internet too. KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer takes a look at how educators and lawmakers are working to combat the growing problem of cyber bullying.

Also, fourth and fifth graders from Jefferson City recently competed in a Battle of the Books event at the Miller Performing Arts Center. KBIA's Kevin Lorenz reports about how competition makes reading fun for kids.

03/10/08 Wineries are found throughout the valleys of California and the plains of upstate New York. Each of them educates a new generation of winemakers with the coming of every harvesting season. Starting this fall, Missouri will be able to contend with these age-old experts. The University of Missouri will begin offering a degree in viticulture, with an emphasis in enology, through the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology. KBIA's Christy Millweard reports.

Click here for a behind-the-scenes look at the wine bottling process at Les Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport.

03/03/08 The Columbia Public School Board voted unanimously to approve Budget Reduction Parameters for the 2008-2009 school year. KBIA's Martin Winkler tells us where the school board is looking to save some extra cash.

California Middle School students in California, Missouri, reached across the continents recently in an effort increase literacy in Lesotho, Africa. KBIA's R. Evan Groll talked with one of the school's teachers to find out what the students did and how their hard work paid off.

In our new segment, "Class Dismissed," we check in Columbia Independent School teacher Sue Ann Moore to hear what's on her mind.

02/25/08 This week, we look at two bills being considered by Missouri lawmakers. One would make private schools more affordable by giving parents a break on property tax payments, and the other would create a quality rating system for Missouri and Kansas preschools.

02/18/08 Sometimes student pranks can be funny, but when a bomb threat is involved it's anything but. KBIA's Elle Moxley spoke with officials at the Missouri Department of Safety to learn about the dangers and consequences students face when making a false report.

Some Columbia high school students learn first-hand what it's like to be an astronaut during a space simulation at Hickman High School.

And University of Missouri President Gary Forsee takes time out from his first day of work to talk with reporters.

02/11/08 Most colleges and universities strive to have the best students, faculty, and research facilities. MU is no exception. One way the University seeks to reach this goal is by raising a billion dollars in funding. KBIA's Sean Powers takes a closer look at MU's "For All We Call Mizzou" campaign.

And, in a new segment called "Class Dismissed" we're checking in regularly with local teachers to hear what's on their minds. Matt Webel is an English teacher and chair of the language arts department at Rock Bridge High School. Webel thinks of teaching as an art form, where a natural ability also takes effort and determination to reach students.

To access the 2007 archive of Exam features in streaming audio, click here.