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Below the overview of the district are links to KBIA's coverage of Columbia 93 district schools, updated as more stories are published. Columbia 93 at a glanceThe Columbia 93 school district currently includes 32 different schools. In 2014, the district had a k-12 enrollment of 17,204 students, which is 2% of the total k-12 enrollment for the state. Enrollment has been slightly increasing in recent years, 2% since 2011. While a small percent, that amounts to almost 400 more students. There have also been major re-drawing of attendance areas with the addition of Battle High School. Middle school attendance areas shape high school boundaries 00000178-cc7d-da8b-a77d-ec7d2f9e0000The changes have affected all schools in the district, including causing high school attendance to increase and overcrowding at one middle school at least.

CPS Superintendent Belcher considering retirement, has interviewed at MU

Chris Belcher
Kristofor Husted
/
KBIA

Now that Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Chris Belcher is eligible for retirement, he is weighing his options for next year. That’s according to an email Belcher sent out last week to Columbia Public Schools staff.  One of his options could be a teaching position with the MU College of Education.

District spokersperson Michelle Baumstark says Belcher sent the email to remain transparent about his situation with staff.

“It’s a difficult decision for him because he does enjoy being superintendent of Columbia Public Schools," she says. "He’s beginning to consider his options and eventually he will make a decision on what he wants to do.”

Belcher has applied for the position of Assistant Teaching Professor of PK12 Leadership and Policy within MU’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Barbara Peterson with the College of Education said in a statement to KBIA that “of the candidates who applied, Dr. Belcher emerged as the strongest candidate for an on-campus interview, which was conducted Dec. 13 and 16.”

An official decision on the position won’t be likely for another few weeks, Peterson said.

Belcher has worked in education for 30 years. He’s been superintendent in Columbia since 2009.

Kristofor left KBIA in fall of 2021