School Opening Update
At the Formal Meeting of the Board, the Superintendent shared a School Opening/Operational Update for Board Members. In addition to first-day highlights, the report included information on operational priorities and staffing needs.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSE5D5FBA
TOTY/ISPY Exchange of Plates
Mrs. Cherie Goldman who served as the 2020-2022 District Teacher of the Year, as well as the GA State Teacher of the Year, representing Hesse K8 School, along with Mr. Melvin Nesbitt who served as the SCCPSS 2020-2022 Instructional Support Person of the Year from Otis J. Brock, Jr. Elementary were both on hand at the Regular Meeting to officially welcome the incoming Teacher of the Year – Elizabeth Whalen of Charles Ellis Montessori Academy and the incoming Instructional Support Person of the Year for school year 2022-2023, Nurse Natalie Sauers of Jacob G Smith Elementary. Unfortunately, Nurse Sauers was unable to attend the August meeting, but we look forward to seeing her in September!
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSF5D5FBB
Resolution to Support the SY 2023 Charter School Comprehensive Performance Framework
The updated SY 2023 Charter School Chevron Report Template and the Charter School Comprehensive Performance Framework Technical Guide have been reviewed by the Board Accountability Committee and recommended for formal adoption by the Board. The framework supports the requirements of O.C.G.A §20-2- 2065(b)(2) and School Board Rule 160-4-9-.06 that stipulates responsibilities of local Boards of Education. The Charter School Comprehensive Performance Framework consists of seven domains, each listing several indicators, measures, formulas, and possible evidence sources the administration may use. The seven domains are:
• Academic Performance (State and Federal guidelines) • Academic Performance (Comparison to SCCPSS) • Learning Environment • Financial Management • Human Resource Management • Operational Performance • Board Governance & LEA Partnership
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPST5D5FC7
Policy First Reads
Policy IFCB and Regulation IFCB-R – Field Trips and Excursions (Four Year Review) • No changes to Policy • Changes Recommended for Regulation Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IFCB along with the supporting regulation. There are no changes recommended for Policy language. Changes have been offered on the administrative regulation to reflect current processes of the District and to align volunteer references with existing policies.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSM5D5FC1
Policy JRB – Parents' Bill of Rights (New Policy) District Administration has determined a need to create Board Policy JRB – Parents' Bill of Rights due to the passing of House Bill 1178 from the 2022 Legislative Session and signed into law by the Governor of Georgia. The language stipulates certain requirements supportive of parent involvement in schools. Administrative procedures relative to the requirements of this policy section will be developed by the Superintendent with feedback from parents and administrators and posted to school websites.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSN5D5FC2
Policy EEE and Regulation EEE-R(1) – Wellness Program (Mid Period Review) • No Policy Changes • Changes Recommended for Regulation only District Administration and the District's Wellness Committee have reviewed Board Policy and Regulation EEE using the Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment. The changes to the regulation are based on the outcomes from the assessment and to better align language with the District's current processes.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSR5D5FC5
Property Sale and Easement Approved to Support the Truman Linear Bike Trail
The Board approved the sale of 0.017 acres and granting of easement of 0.079 acres to the City of Savannah for $4,300.00, for the purposes of construction of the Truman Linear Park Trail and authorized the Board President to execute the easement. The trail was designed to run along the west side of Rueben Clark Way, which is adjacent to our H.V. Jenkins HS Property on DeRenne Avenue. The land is currently grassed, and not in use by SCCPSS.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWQL46151C2
Security Upgrades
New CCTV Security Trailers and Cameras
The Board approved the purchase of eight (8) security trailers with cameras at a cost of $277,060.56. The new cameras will be put to use at various locations throughout the district.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPU75D5FF3
ESPLOST III Funds Used to Purchase Safety and Security Equipment
The Board approved the transfer of funds for ESPLOST III (Fund 312) to process orders for various school sites for safety, security, and equipment totaling $729,270.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGXPPW65A2FF
All Aboard the Reading Express!
The Board approved first-year expenditures in the amount of $145,142.00 in support of the IAL Grant – All Aboard the Reading Express. The IAL-Grant is intended to leverage community and school partnerships to enhance literacy opportunities and access to free language-appropriate books for students in the Savannah-Chatham County community. The goal of this grant is to provide free access to language-appropriate books for students within our community and schools serving our English-Language Learners. Books for school libraries and at-home libraries will be purchased and literacy instruction will be provided to parents. Books will be purchased from Scholastic and Follett.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPUA5D5FF6
Policy Adoptions
Policy IEDA – Unstructured Break Time (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IEDA and determined a need to update language due to changes during the 2022 legislative session to O.C.G.A 20-2-323 which addresses scheduling of recess during the academic learning day. This policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and was presented for first read on June 13, 2022. Based on feedback received (1) language has been adjusted to clearly state that the loss of recess cannot be used as disciplinary action for behavior that occurred outside of any unstructured break and (2) language that stipulates the legal floor for determinations as to when recess is not required has been removed.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CH5UFF7B3813
Policy EDDA and Regulation EDDA – R – Special Use of School Buses (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE-Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EDDA along with the supporting regulation and determined a need for changes. Minor changes to policy language have been provided for proper staff title references. Requirements for approval and use have been better defined for school and departments and for outside agency requests in the regulation.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWQGR60820C
Policy IHB and Regulation IHB – R – Homework (Four Year Review – Changes to Regulation Recommended) • No Policy Changes • Changes Recommended for Regulation only Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IHB along with the supporting regulation and presented updates for review during the May 11, 2022, Board meeting. Recommendations from Board Members were made to conduct further review regarding the changes to the Regulation. District Administration has conducted this review and now provides the Regulation updates to grade level homework recommendations.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWQH46090C8
Policy DF – Revenues (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) The proposal was tabled on second reading at the June meeting. In the interim additional changes have been made to Policy DF. Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy DF and determined a need for changes to update the language and to align with current and improved processes. The policy was removed from the table and officially adopted.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSQ5D5FC4
Policy IHF, IHF-R(2), Creation of IHF-(6) -R(1), and Deletion of IHFR(0), IHF-R(1), and IHF-R(3) – Graduation Requirements (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IHF along with the supporting regulations and determined a need for minor changes to the policy and multiple adjustments to the location of regulations within the simbli program to simplify relevant references to historical graduation requirements. Additional language for the out of country student credit verification process and changes to the CTAE World Language/Fine Art requirements have been included. For reasons stated above, this policy review has resulted in the recommendation for deletion of the following regulations (Requirements are noted in the leading policy). • IHF-R(0) • IHF-R(1) • IHF-R(3) Creation of IHF-(6)-R(1) to replace IHF-R(3) for correct simbli program regulation reference. IHF-R(2) has no changes.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWQHA609DC0
Policy JBCBA and Regulation JBCBA-R - Tuition (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JBCBA and Regulation JBCBA-R - Tuition and determined a need for changes to update language references to “Choice" programs (no longer “Specialty") and to clarify current processes regarding tuition payments.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWQJ260D9A8
Policy IKBB – Divisive Concepts Complaint Resolution Process (New Policy) HB 1084 from the 2022 Legislative Session as passed by the House and Senate was signed into law by the Governor of Georgia. The act defines and prohibits “Divisive Concepts" and requires each local board of education, and governing body of each charter school, to adopt a complaint resolution policy containing specific provisions to address complaints alleging violations of the statute. This policy has been designed to adhere to Code 20-1-11 and must be adopted by August 1, 2022. Model language as provided by the Georgia School Boards Association has been utilized in the development of this new policy.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWQK66111BE
Superintendent's Evaluation and Contract Approved
The Board has evaluated the Superintendent and her evaluation was satisfactory. Her contract will be revised accordingly.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPSS5D5FC6
The Superintendent's annual contract as amended was presented for the Board's review and approved.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGYSB471CF5D
Supply Chain Assistance Grant Approved for School Nutrition Program
The Georgia Department of Education has awarded the SCCPSS School Nutrition Department funds for COVID Relief for 2019 totaling $710,699. These funds will be used to purchase, both current and future, domestic foods that are not processed or only minimally processed. The Board approved the amendment of (Fund 600) budgeted revenues and expenditures by $710,699.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGXPPZ65A482
ESPLOST UPDATES
Funds Transfer Approved for Additional Land Acquisition for K-12 Multi-Campus
The Board approved an operating transfer to ESPLOST IV for the K-12 Multi-Campus additional land acquisition. The Division of Finance plans to use General Fund vacancy accumulation and other expenditure savings that resulted from limited operations as a result of Covid 19 to provide advanced funding to support this purchase. This transfer will be repaid to the General Fund from ESPLOST and interest revenue collections by the end of calendar year 2023 or as excess funds become available.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGXQL969CB23
Coastal Middle Interior Renovation Construction Bid Approved
The Board approved the award of Bid C22-13 (ESPLOST) Coastal Middle School Interior Renovation to RL Construction Group, LLC at a total cost of $1,198,422.00.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPUK5D5FFF
Construction Management Bid Awarded for Pulaski K8 Conversion
The Board approved the award of RFP C22-09 (ESPLOST) CMR Services for Pulaski ES K-8 Conversion to Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC in the amount of $3,122,369.00.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPUL5D6000
Photovoltaic System Installation Approved for K-12 Multi-School Campus
The Board approved the installation of a new Photovoltaic System at the K-12 Multi-School Campus by Georgia Power at a cost of $1,199,285.00.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CGWPUM5D6001
Personnel Moves
Congratulations to Troy Brown who has been named Acting Associate Superintendent of Elementary/K8 Schools.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Board Audit Committee
Thursday, August 25, 2022 - 8:00 AM
Whitney Administrative Complex- Building G
Board Accountability Committee Meeting-Equity Subcommittee
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 - 3:30 PM
Whitney Administrative Complex- Building G
Board/Superintendent Retreat
Thursday, August 18, 2022 & Friday, August 19, 2022
Location – Memorial Stadium Community Room
