The Way Forward 2026
Prior to the start of the July Informal Board Meeting, the Board met with Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) representatives to review and discuss the District's DRAFT strategic plan - The Way Forward 2026. GSBA presented results from the Superintendent's Cabinet, School Board, Community Engagement, Planning Team, and Action Team strategic work on the District's Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles, Priority Goals, and Performance Objectives. The Action Team will continue to work with GSBA on the performance measures, strategies, and the action steps that will lead to the successful attainment of identified priority goals. http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNM56083F3
Special Education Update
An update on Special Education originally planned for the Informal Meeting was moved to the Workshop agenda to provided additional time for review and discussion. Information regarding the District's special education efforts and services was provided as we prepare for the start of the 2021-22 SY. The presentation highlighted efforts made over the past year as part of the Reigniting Special Education Plan with the goal of creating a strategic plan focused on continuous improvement that ensures consistent, high - quality services are provided to students with disabilities.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4HKRE520CF6
2021-22 SY Transportation Update
Also, at the Informal Meeting, Board members were presented details of the plans for transportation services in the 2021-22 SY. A severe shortage of drivers has forced the district to prioritize students eligible for transportation services. Priority 1 includes students with an IEP or 504 Plan where transportation is specifically required, ESOL and Homeless students. Priority 2 includes Elementary and K8 students attending school within their attendance zone. Priority 3 includes Middle and High School grade level students attending school within their attendance zone. At this time the district is unable to provide transportation to students attending Choice programs and schools outside their attendance zone. The SCCPSS Transportation Department is engaged in a robust recruitment drive to help alleviate the problem.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4HKRH520CF9
Health Safety & Facility Usage Report
Per the requirements of the District Accountability System, Board members received updates from Campus Police and Facility Management on efforts to maintain health and safety during the upcoming school year. Campus Police provided details of their work to enhance screening and access control throughout the COVID pandemic along with their efforts to ensure social distancing and assist the District nursing team with contact tracing. The Facility Management team detailed efforts to enhance health and safety that are currently underway and will continue into the coming school year. Those include frequent cleaning and disinfecting, fogging, and sanitizing and a change of HVAC filters every 8 weeks. The procedure for staff to order additional PPE delivery to their site was explained. The district is well-stocked for the 2021-22 SY!
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QP3Y6205CD
Superintendent's District Operational Update
An Operational Update was provided during the Superintendent's Report to the Board to detail District preparation for the 2021-2022 school opening. Due to the impacts of the global pandemic, SCCPSS operated under a phased approach for teaching and learning throughout the 2020-2021 School Year. School opening is planned for in-person learning to occur 5-days a week beginning August 4, 2021. Mask/Face coverings will be optional. SCCPSS seeks to offer all functional aspects that are as close to pre-covid operations as health and safety conditions will allow.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4HKJY51FE95
Superintendent's Report: Good News!
The Superintendent provided updates on District Accolades and good news. Among the list of achievements includes some departmental highlights! The SCCPSS Division of Communications has received ten (10) 2021 Publications and Digital Media Excellence awards from the National School Public Relations Association. Recognition was earned in each category entered! The Publications and Digital Media Awards contest is open to all public or private schools or districts, including special schools such as vocational-technical institutes, regional or county education service agencies, education agencies and private businesses serving as partners with those organizations. Our communications team was recognized with the top prize – Award of Excellence - in four categories. Those include Excellence in Writing, Marketing Materials, Special Purpose Publication, and Video (produced with outside contract). Kudos to our Communications Team!
The Human Resources department of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System was recently recognized by the Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators (GASPA.) The team was awarded a platinum in strategic partnerships, gold in recruitment and best in class for employee handbook at the Spring conference last month. And they didn't stop there… the team received notice just last week that we have been selected by the American Association of School Personnel Administrators to receive the digital branding award. This national award is given to the school district whose personnel department has most effectively leveraged the power of at least one digital channel to tell their district's employment story. AND…the district also has been awarded the AASPA William L. Hunter Point of Light Award, given to school districts making outstanding contributions in innovative and comprehensive teacher development programs designed to increase diversity in school districts. The awards will be presented at a luncheon in October at the national conference for AASPA. In case you weren't counting…that's TWO national awards and THREE state awards…SO FAR this year!
Full Report Here: http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4HKJV51FE92
Policy First Reads
Policy EE: Food Services Management (Four Year Review) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EE: Food Services Management. Minor changes have been recommended. This Policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and is now being presented for first read.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNFM5FADEC
Policy ICC and ICC-R – Curriculum Research (Four Year Review) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy ICC along with the supporting regulation and has determined a need for changes to make position references current and to update references to the Georgia Standards for the District's curriculum.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNB95F1291
Policy IHDA – Valedictorian/Salutatorian (New Policy) As part of the District's policy review process, Administration has noted the need to create Board Policy IHDA – Valedictorian/Salutatorian to support the existing regulation. This Policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and is now being presented for first reading.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNBA5F135D
Regulation GARH-R (1) – Employee Leave & Absences (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GARH-R (1) – Employee Leave and Absences and has determined changes are needed due to the approval of House Bill 146 – Paid Parental Leave during the 2021 Legislative Session. Revisions have been offered under the Administrative Regulation to account for legislative action. This Administrative Regulation has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and is now being presented for the Board's review.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNBB5F145F
Regulation JBC-R – School Admissions (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed this Administrative Regulation and has determined a need for modifications to update the Guardianship Process for Choice Programs. This Regulation has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and is being presented for Board review.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4RR7W6CAC52
Policy Adoptions
Policy JBC School Admissions (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JBC School Admissions and has determined the need for minor changes to update school and program names and job titles since the last review was conducted. This Policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and was presented for first reading on June 2, 2021. The policy was presented for second read adoption.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNFJ5FACB0
Policy GBEAA – Unauthorized Audio/Video Taping (Four Year Review – Deletion of Policy Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBEAA. The policy has been determined unnecessary due to the outdated nature of its content and the redundancy of this policy title. This Policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and was presented for first reading on June 2, 2021. The policy was presented for second read and approved for deletion.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNFL5FAD3F
Policy EEA: Free and Reduced Nutrition Programs (Four Year Review – No Changes) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EEA Free and Reduced. No changes are recommended. This Policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and was presented for adoption and affirmation that the review requirements have been completed per the requirements of Policy BDE.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNFN5FAEA3
Beach High Auditorium Name Approved
The Board approved a name for the new Beach High Auditorium after the naming committee made a unanimous recommendation. The auditorium will be named the Richard R. Mole, Sr. Auditorium. Richard Mole, Sr. served as Principal of Alfred E. Beach High School for 13 years from 1976 to 1988. Committee members felt he made an impact on so many students, staff, and community members that they felt it only befitting to name the school auditorium after him. The proposed name was presented for first read at the June meeting of the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4QNCT5F4F8B
Updated Intergovernmental Agreement Between SCCPSS and Garden City
The agreement provides the parameters of the cooperation between the City and SCCPSS for the development of property located within Garden City formerly housing the Groves High School facility. The full performance of this agreement will result in, among other things, a Multi-School Project including Groves High School and athletic facilities pursuant to a Master Plan. All details of this agreement are clearly enumerated within the updated Intergovernmental Agreement document and, as amended and restated, now reflects the proper ownership of the northeastern 3.55-acre portion of the 8.49-acre Chatham County Tax Parcel No. 60014 01030, as that of SCCPSS.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4USYH74F5DD
Personnel Moves
Starting July 15, 2021, Mr. Julian Childers will make the move to Interim Associate Superintendent K-12 School Transformation! Congratulations!!
