The Columbia School Board will meet Monday to evaluate Columbia Public Schools’ business services program, policy changes and other various updates.
Business Services Department evaluation
Chief Financial Officer Heather McArthur will present a program update on the Business Services Department, which is responsible for the “administration, direction, and coordination of all financial services for the district,” according to board documents.
The presentation will primarily focus on the department’s grant budgets and district investments. It will also discuss progress made toward district budgets, such as the operating budget and debt service.
Strengths of the department include its level of efficiency and experience, with more than 160 years of experience between 13 employees, according to board documents. Continuing education and communication are listed as growth areas, with board documents acknowledging the need for collaboration with the department. The district also brought in only $24.36 million in federal grants in 2025, more than $10 million below the 2024 tally.
Finance update
McArthur will also present a district finance update, previously discussed in a finance committee meeting Monday. She will discuss assumptions for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as the district’s five-year model.
Assumptions in the five-year model include an expected decrease in federal funding, step increases for all employee groups, as well as a projected increase in transportation revenues due to rising expenditure rates in fiscal years 2024 to 2025.
Tolton ‘Like Us’ program
An administration-requested professional services agreement between the district and Tolton Regional Catholic High School will implement the “Like Us” program, a three-month long anti-bullying and anti-racism training for the school’s teachers and staff.
The $6,000 program seeks to lower disciplinary reports of hate speech and discrimination by 50%, according to board documents. The training hopes for 100% staff participation, running from April through June of this year.
Policy changes
The board will vote on two policies for second read and final approval, both regarding teacher transferring and reassigning district staff to other buildings.
Recommended language changes for Policy GCI, a statement explaining the transfer and reassignment process for district staff, would clarify that employee transfer requests would only be granted in the best interest of the district.
A revised Policy GDI, which seeks to support staff transfers and reassignments, will add a Facilitated Voluntary Transfer Process, allowing employees with proper certification to apply for open positions in the district. Applying does not guarantee transfer, and employees currently under a professional improvement plan cannot participate in the program, according to board documents.
‘Portrait of a Graduate’
District students will present on the work they’ve done as part of the “Portrait of a Graduate” working group. “Portrait of a Graduate” is a strategic planning process that facilitates community dialogues between district students, parents and other local stakeholders.
Through discussion and data collection, it aims to create a list of “competencies” future district graduates should exhibit. The competencies, which include integrity and critical thinking, are considered the foundation of the program.
Board documents state that the process “ensures a diploma is more than a transcript of grades; it signifies an intentional commitment to equipping our students with the specific competencies they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
How to watch
The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Aslin Administration Building, 1818 W. Worley St. For those unable to attend, a livestream is available on CPS-TV and viewable on the district website, Spectrum, Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV.