EDUCATION

Columbia Independent School board of trustees approves campus redesign plan

The CIS Board of Trustees recently approved a campus redesign plan that will add an approximately 27,000 square-foot upper school building for grades 9-12 and include renovations to its existing building. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on November 17, and the new upper school building will open in Fall 2024.

Currently, all students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade are in the same building. The new upper school building will connect to the current building but will offer a separate space dedicated to the needs of students in grades 9-12, including spaces for collaborative and individual learning. By relocating to the upper school, CIS can create spaces in the current building for a third section of each lower school grade and an early childhood center that includes a program for three-year-old students.

“At enrollment of 400 students, we are out of classroom, activity and administrative space in our current building,” says CIS Head of School Bridgid Kinney. “In order to continue offering the high level of individualized instruction for which we are known, we must add more physical space to our campus. I’m thrilled that our board of trustees and generous donors are making expansion and renovation possible.”

Discussions regarding a potential expansion began in 2020 after the acquisition of a 2.5-acre tract located to the northwest of the current campus. The acquisition was facilitated by a gift from CIS parent and local business owner Sara Potterfield. 

CELEBRATION

City of Columbia finance department receives Excellence in Financial Reporting certificate

The City of Columbia Finance department has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Excellence in Financial Reporting certificate for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year 2021. The report was judged by a panel and met the program’s standards, which include demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. 

This certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. 

“The City’s Finance department has worked diligently to ensure that the City complies with all accounting requirements established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB),” Director of Finance Matthew Lue said. “This award represents a significant accomplishment by the Finance department and ensures that we are being transparent about the sources and uses of the City’s financial resources.”

CELEBRATION

Renew Missouri celebrates state’s new efficiency ranking

Renew Missouri, a 501(c)(3) focusing on clean energy policy and accessibility to clean energy for all Missouri, is always eager to see the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy (ACEEE) State Scorecard on Energy Efficiency and how the Show-Me State is doing on reducing the demand for power.

This year, Missouri ranks 29th after making a significant leap ahead from previous lists. Ten years ago, Missouri ranked 44th on this list. Five years ago, our state edged up to 38th. Looking at moving into the Top Thirty, Executive Director James Owen cites Missouri’s 2009 groundbreaking law that incentivizes energy efficiency, reducing the need to generate more power.

“The Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA) has revolutionized reducing energy demand over the past decade,” says Owen. “Renew Missouri works tirelessly to advocate for MEEIA programs before the Public Service Commission despite the opposition of state bureaucrats.”

MEEIA allows investor-owned utilities to recover lost earnings from energy efficiency programs. Customers still save money but the real benefit results from less electricity production. From 2013-2019 alone, Energy Missouri’s energy efficiency portfolio resulted in 900 million kWh saved. The equivalent of over 142,000 cars taken off the road in reduced emissions and $47.3 million in benefits to customers. 

GIVING BACK

Delta Dental of Missouri awards $35,000 in oral health grants to two Columbia-area organizations

To help meet the dental health needs of children and adults, Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s leading dental benefits provider – recently awarded $35,000 in oral health grant funding to two Columbia-area organizations in support of oral health initiatives and educational programming.

This funding completes the second cycle of the non-profit company’s annual mission giving efforts, which provided a total of $730,931 to 22 organizations in Missouri and in South Carolina, where it also does business. During cycle one earlier this year, Delta Dental of Missouri awarded $481,327 in grants to 16 organizations for a combined total of more than $1.2 million in oral health grants for 2022.

The oral health grants most recently awarded in Columbia include Curators of the University of Missouri – Missouri Kidney Program, which received $25,000 to help fund dental care and transportation assistance for patients before and after transplants and for patients receiving dialysis treatment; and Central Missouri Community Action, which received $10,000 to provide dental treatment for families with low incomes in Central Missouri.