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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.

Columbia Public Schools Drop Idea of 'Alternate Meal' for Students in Debt

blue tray
Chelsea Stuart
/
KBIA
A student’s tray full of food looks nearly the same as when it was purchased seconds before it is dumped into a trash can during lunch in New Franklin, Mo., Monday, Sept. 24, 2012. School officials are trying new strategies to combat the increase in waste

Columbia Public Schools have abandoned the idea of offering an "alternate meal" of a cheese sandwich and apple for students who owe more than $15 to the district.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports district nutrition services director Laina Fullum sent parents and guardians an email in early August explaining the proposal that was to go into effect Aug. 25.

Superintendent Peter Stiepleman says the district heard loudly from the community that it would not be one that refuses to provide food for children.

Fullum told principals in the district that parents needed to be held accountable for unpaid meal debt. The principals contacted families and helped them either apply for free or reduced-price meals or pay their balance.

Fullum says the unpaid meal balances have been declining since then.  

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