House Special Committee on Regulatory Oversight and Reform on the relationship between Columbia Public Schools and Catapult Learning. Members from both organizations were asked to attend with 48 hours notice and both declined to attend. Testimony by two educators were heard on disciplinary practices for isolation and restraint practices. Testimony conflicted with numerous CPS statements denying that they had utilized seclusion rooms in an unfinished state and to what extent. CPS seems to be disassociating themselves from Catapult Learning's practices with these statements, even though Catapult Learning is directly contracted to take referrals from CPS for special needs children with behavioral challenges.

Incumbents Jonathan Sessions and Helen Wade share forum with campaigning members Chris Horn and David Seamon. Event was organized and hosted by Columbia, Missouri Special Education Parent-Teachers Association (COMO SEPTA). Event was held open to the public at the Daniel Boone Regional Library on 02/19/2020.

This bill seeks to further define and clarify limitations on the use of seclusion and restraint in elementary and secondary school systems, and implements mandatory reporting by staff and witnessing personnel of incidents to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education within 30 days of the incident.
We believe that this policy should be expanded to all organizations, entities, and contractors, public and private, to ensure a safe standard of care where our childrens' health and well-being are concerned. These entities include, but are not limited to, police departments, therapists, counselors, staff and administration, foster care systems, school bus drivers, or any other group responsible for the oversight of children - particularly where mandated by law, such as schools.
Ref. https://legiscan.com/MO/text/HB1568/2020

House Bill 1540 proposes to specify that parents and guardians retain the right to record private sessions covered under federal program Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). It also includes language to extend whistle-blower rights to school staff who report violations of this law.
Missouri is a one-consent state, meaning that any one party can record at any given time under nearly any circumstance. This bill seeks to explicitly exert the right to record these sessions over any school policy in conflict with standing law.
Critique: The bill in the form as presented only extends as far as public school systems. Our position urges lawmakers to extend these protections to all school districts: public, private, charter, and religious. Moreover, we encourage legislators to mandate that schools provide access to recording equipment and copies to the parent/guardian at no cost. These recordings would be attached to the student's personal file for future reference and compose part of a complete educational history.

Columbia, MO officials announce formation of Violent Crime Task Force as response to growing violence in Columbia and Boone County. The unit is deputized through Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, lending them access to federal resources. It consists of Columbia Police Department (4 personnel), Boone County Sheriff's Department (4 personnel), and University of Missouri Police (1 personnel).

Members of the Columbia, MO John Brown Gun Club present on community-based restorative justice and programs, and the vision of police abolition.

Students from University of Missouri College of Education host a panel discussion on the School to Prison Pipeline and schools' roles by means of disciplinary policy. Panelists include Dr. Peter Stiepleman, Superintendent, Columbia Public Schools; Jonathan Logan, Asst. Coordinator of Safety & Security, Columbia Public Schools; and Justice Gatson, Kansas City Community Organizer, ACLU of Missouri. 20191104.

Pro-Life advocates celebrate Governor Parson's signing of HB 126, further restricting abortion access to women in the state of Missouri. It isn't hard to find the overlap of church/state interests by the represented members participating in the event.

Senator Ed Emery, Representative Cherie Toalson-Reisch, and Representative Hannah Kelly present. Presenters also include Diane Vaughan, RN, BSN (Regional Manager ThriVe St Louis Women's Medical Center); Reagan Barklage (Students for Life); Kathy Forck (Team PLAY); and Rebecca Kiessling (Save the 1).

There are many issues in the material that prompt us to advise close listening and analysis of the rhetoric.

Rebecca Kiessling provides training for Pro-Life arguments. In disclosure, we reject the point of view presented, but felt it might be a valuable resource for others to be aware of some of the talking points.

This training was provided in the Jefferson City Capitol Building as part of the "Missouri Heartsbeat for the Unborn" presentation (uploaded separately) held in the Capitol Rotunda on 06/07/2019.

Columbia, MO. Interim Police Chief Geoff Jones discusses police policy changes and department morale following removal of Ken Burton.