Social/Emotional Learning Survey Update
At the Informal Meeting, Board members received a report on the recent survey of students to assess Social/Emotional Learning needs. A survey was conducted of students in grades 3-12. SCCPSS survey questions were selected to cover the following areas:
• Positive and Challenging Feelings
• Self-Management and Social Awareness
• Grit and Learning Strategies
• School Engagement and Valuing of School
• School Climate
• Sense of Belonging, and Teacher-Student Relationships
The survey is optional. There have been 15,628 respondents with 637 opt-outs.
See the full report here:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLVB56E0F7
COVID Transmission Update
Also at the Informal meeting, Board Members were updated on the District's COVID mitigation efforts, confirmed cases and quarantine numbers since the beginning of the school year through early November. See the full report here:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLJK569382
2022-2023 ACADEMIC CALENDAR Approved
At the Regular Meeting, the 2022-2023 Academic Calendar was approved. A draft of the calendar was first presented to Board members at the November meeting. The calendar is built based on the framework of the existing 2021-2022 academic calendar. The calendar includes:
• Ten (10) staff planning days with priority given to pre-planning days.
• Three (3) staff planning days spread evenly throughout the school year (Aug 3- May 23).
• Commitment to online learning platform with strategically planned “e-Learning" Days.
• Fall break to finish first nine weeks.
• Veterans Day recognized with a Holiday for All.
• Full one-week Thanksgiving break.
• Full 2-week winter break.
• Early spring “long weekend" for students/staff (St Patrick's Day weekend).
• One week Spring Break at the start of April.
• Federal Holidays accounted for using 12 Holiday for All Days to include observation of Juneteenth-June 19, 2023.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLS5698D5
College Entrance Exams Report
At the Formal meeting, Board members received a report on the performance of SCCPSS students on College Entrance Exams in the 2020-21 SY. Please note that student participation and performance for both exams were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many testing centers closed or canceled sessions, and colleges waived SAT/ACT entrance requirements, resulting in participation declines. For this reason, SY 2021 scores are not comparable to prior years.
Some key points include:
• Over 500 students in the class of 2021 participated in the SAT, and 124 took the ACT. Compared to last year, SAT participation declined by 561 students for the district, 30,559 students for the state, and 689,327 students nationwide. ACT participation declined by 246 students for the district; 16,711 students for the state; and 375,148 students nationwide.
• Thirty-six percent (36%) of students met the SAT readiness benchmarks in both reading and math, and 55% met the ACT composite benchmark score.
• The district outperformed the comparison group's average SAT combined score by 42 points.
• Jenkins and Savannah Arts met or exceeded the 2022 target for the percentage of students meeting both the Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math benchmarks.
• The district's average ACT Composite score was 22.2. The district outperformed the comparison group.
• Islands, Jenkins, and Savannah Arts met or exceeded the 2022 ACT target for the percentage of students at or above the benchmark for college and career readiness.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BMLW594AE8
Choice Program Update
At the Formal meeting, Board Members received an update on the District's Choice Programs Application process which begins next month. The application will open on the same day the District's Student Success Expo is held on January 22, 2022 at the Savannah Mall. Required Test Scores have been waived from the Choice eligibility criteria for school year 2022- 2023 due to COVID-19. Also due to pandemic impacts, auditions for the arts programs at Savannah Arts Academy and Garrison School for the Arts will be different – hybrid auditions for SAA and online auditions for Garrison. District staff also outlined program updates enhanced by the recent grant award through the Magnet School Assistance Program - STEAM magnet schools will provide a pathway for students from elementary to high school at A.B. Williams Elementary, Hubert Middle School and Savannah High School.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BMLV594A26
Good News
STEM Academy Re-designated an Apple Distinguished School
The STEM Academy @ Bartlett has once again been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021–2024 for its use of technology including a 1:1 iPad program and integration of apps across the curriculum to create a culture of innovation and academic achievement. http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MKT561970
Hubert Middle Named a Lead4Change Certified School
Hubert Middle School has been named a Lead4Change Certified School for
2021. Lead4Change is a leadership program available to educators that helps students
identify and use their leadership skills by doing a service project. The program provides
a Leadership Curriculum with a framework for Community Service. Hubert is one of
only 35 schools certified in 2021.
Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant
The Savannah-Chatham Public School System is excited to announce its recent awarding of a $781,251 Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). The “All Aboard the Reading Express" project will leverage community and school partnerships to enhance literacy opportunities and access to free, grade- and language-appropriate books for students in the Savannah-Chatham community from birth through twelfth grade.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLKV5698B8
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent's Student of the Month October is Karl Anderson-Tremblay, a 7th Grader from the STEM Academy at Bartlett. Congratulations, Karl!
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLJF56937E
Professional Senate Report
A report from the latest meeting of the Superintendent's Professional Senate was presented by our Instructional Support Person of the Year.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLL35698BE
Policy First Reads
Policy FD – Facilities Long-Range Planning (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy FD and determined a need for changes to provide a clear description of the District's process for the development of the Long-Range Facility Plan.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLB5698C6
Policy DC – Annual Operating Budget (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy DC and determined a need for minor changes to update the language within the policy.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLE5698C9
Policy EBBF – Safety Inspections (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE - Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EBBF along with the supporting regulation. Regulation language has been determined unnecessary due to revisions within the Policy language that clearly states the code section for the requirements associated with safety inspections.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLL5698CF
Administrative Regulation GBRB-R – Professional Personnel Time Schedules (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Regulation GBRB-R – Professional Personnel Time Schedules. Additional changes are needed to provide information on the District's holiday overtime procedures when an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday and work is required.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLP5698D2
New Oatland Island Visitor Center Name Approved: Tony Cope Education and Visitor Center
In accordance with Policy FDC and Administrative Regulation FDC-R, Naming Facilities, a team was appointed by the Superintendent to provide a recommendation for the naming of the Oatland Island Visitor Center (main building). After initially being presented the name recommendation at the November Board meeting, the Board approved the naming of the Oatland Island visitor center building as the Tony Cope Education and Visitor Center at the December meeting. Edward Anthony “Tony" Cope, creator, and long-time director of the Oatland Island Wildlife Center, passed away Friday, October 8, 2021. Mr. Cope was a former educator with Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools and retired after 30 years with the system.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLV5698D8
Policy Adoptions!
Policy EDCA – Bus Safety Inspection (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE - Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EDCA – Bus Safety Inspection and determined a need for changes to update the language to accurately reflect bus safety inspection practices.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLQ356993E
Policy MCA – Shared Services with Private Schools (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy MCA – Shared Services with Private Schools and determined a need for changes to update language regarding the appropriate educational funding sources by reference of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLQ6569941
Policy GBRB – Professional Personnel Time Schedules (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBRB – Professional Personnel Time Schedules along with the supporting regulation. Changes are needed to add clarity to the overtime definitions based on the Fair Labor Standards Act and to update the number of paid holidays to accommodate the observance of the June 19 Federal Holiday.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLQ9569944
Policy DIC – Inventories (Four Year Review – No Change Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy DIC Inventories. No changes are recommended.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLLH5698CC
ESPLOST UPDATES
ESPLOST IV CONTINUATION RESOLUTION
The voters approved the continuation of the Educational Purpose Local Option Sales Tax on November 2, 2021. At the Formal meeting, the Board passed the accompanying resolution to announce the results of the election and to provide documentation for potential financing and other purposes.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BMMT5994AB
ESPLOST Construction Management Contract Approved
The Board approved an agreement to contract with PARSONS for specific professional and expert consultant services as it relates to Construction Management, Project Scheduling, and PMIS Consulting Services for a 12-month term with a monthly cost of $44,853.00 and a yearly cost of $538,236.00
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLPV569938
ESPLOST Construction Management Consulting Services
The Board approved an agreement to contract with VANGUARD for specific roles for a Project Manager and an ESPLOST Project Communication Coordinator as it relates to Construction Management for a 12-month term with a monthly cost of $25,500.00 and a yearly cost of $306,000.00.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLPY56993B
Project Updates
The Board received an update on a number of ESPLOST projects currently underway. Those include:
New Hampstead K8
In progress: Multipurpose field, finishes and final cleaning, FF&E install in Building 1 & 2, ceiling tiles and floors in Building 3.
Groves Multi-Campus School
Status: Construction Slab on grade has been nearly completed for the K-12 building; Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) rough-ins are occurring. Underground rough-in at the CTAE building is complete. Site work continues.
Woodville Tompkins Gym and Auditorium
Status: Construction In progress: Phase I is complete. Phase II work is continuing. Painting, HVAC, metal stud and sheetrock installation is occurring, Electrical rough in and completion continue. The contractor has requested a time extension for completion of Phase II, due to supply chain issues with paint, auditorium seat delivery, and weather.
Savannah High Stadium
Status: Close out Final inspections, punchlist, long jump/triple jump event is being completed.
For a look at the complete report including the newest upcoming projects follow this link:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C9BLQX56995A
Personnel Moves
Several personnel moves were approved by the Board on December 8th. Join us in congratulating the following employees!
Glenda James has been named Acting Principal of Gould Elementary School.
Shennel McCullough has been named Interim Principal of West Chatham Middle.
Kristy Rylander has been named Interim Senior Director-Accountability, Assessment.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
January Informal Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 5, 2021 - 11:00AM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G. 2 Laura Avenue
January Formal Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 5, 2021 - 2:00 PM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G. 2 Laura Avenue
