Millage Rate Reduction
The Board gave Tentative Approval of the Recommended Tax Millage Levy of 18.131 mills for the support and maintenance of public education in Chatham County. This represents a .75 mill reduction. The proposed millage rate for Maintenance and Operations is in compliance with the rollback rate calculated by the Tax Assessor as required by O. C.G.A. 48-5-32.1, and as such will not be required to be advertised as a tax increase above the rollback millage rate.
Tentative Budget Approved
The Board approved Tentative Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget for all Funds at the June Formal Meeting of the Board.
The June Informal Meeting began with an update on the budget process for Board members. The FY 22 All Funds Recommended Expenditure Budget totals $652,797,825.
Superintendent’s District Operational Update
An Operational Update was provided during the Superintendent’s Report to the Board to include the District’s goal to have all students in class five days a week in 2021-2022 with functional aspects in place that are as close to pre-covid operations as health and safety conditions will allow. The Superintendent announced that students interested in a virtual option for the upcoming school year should enroll in the Savannah-Chatham E-Learning Academy. Dr. Levett also announced that mask-wearing is expected to be optional for both staff and students in the coming school year.
Policy First Reads
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.
Regulation AC-R School District Organization Plan (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended for Regulation Only) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy along with the supporting regulation. Board Policy AC – School District Organization Plan was approved May 5, 2021. The District has determined changes are needed within the regulation to update job position names that have changed since the last review and to address alternative grade configured schools.
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 The policy has been determined unnecessary due to the outdated nature of its content and the redundancy of this policy title.
Regulation EGAA Workers’ Compensation (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended for Regulation Only) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EGAA along with the supporting regulation and has determined changes are needed within the regulation to update process changes within the District’s Workers’ Compensation Program. Additionally, Optional Accident Insurance related to “pupils” is not applicable to this Policy section.
Regulation IHA-R – Grading Systems (Four Year Review – No Policy Change Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IHA along with the supporting regulation and has determined changes are needed within the regulation to align with the Student Conduct and the process the District uses to assign conduct grades. No changes are needed in policy.
Regulation GBI-R Professional Personnel Evaluation (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended for Regulation Only) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBI along with the supporting regulation and has determined changes are needed within the regulation to clarify the Board’s role in the Superintendent’s evaluation process/instrument and to update references to the new Teacher Evaluation Appeals as required by state law. No changes are needed in policy.
Policy Adopted
Policy EG & EG-R – Insurance Management (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy and Board Regulation EG and had determined a need for changes to the policy and removal of the regulation. Changes were made to update authority language and description of insurance coverage.
Policy EGA – Staff Insurance Review (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE-Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Policy EGA and has determined a need for changes to update the language with current practices and the current staff benefits program.
Policy JGCC & JGCC-R – Infectious Diseases (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy and Regulation JGCC & JGCC-R Infectious Diseases and has determined changes are needed to bring the policy and regulation current with SCCPSS workplace processes.
Policy GANA – Infectious Diseases (New Policy) District Administration has determined a need to create Board Policy GANA – Infectious Diseases to set expectations for staff who may have been exposed or who carry infections disease. The Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent or designee to develop and implement procedures related to the impact of infectious diseases on school system management and operations.
Policy GBIA – Teacher Evaluation Appeals (New Policy) Due to legislative changes in Code Section 20-2-989.7, that provides for teachers who have accepted a contract for the fourth or subsequent consecutive school year, an option to appeal certain summative performance ratings must be provided. The local Board of Education is required to adopt an appeals policy that details the process no later than July 1, 2021.
Policy IHA – Grading Systems (Four Year Review – No Change Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IHA and has determined no changes are needed for this policy.
Policy GBI Professional Personnel Evaluation (Four Year Review – No Change Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBI and has determined no changes are needed for this policy.
Regulation EGAA Workers’ Compensation (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended for Regulation Only) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EGAA and has determined no changes are needed for this policy.
ESPLOST UPDATE
The Board was presented an update on ESPLOST projects for the first quarter. Some key points include:
- ESPLOST & TAVT proceeds for the first quarter of 2021 average $921K over budget per month. As a result, proceed projections for 2021 have been updated.
- EIII Capital Plan includes the projects that are being planned to be added back under the updated proceeds projections.
Major projects currently under construction include the Jenkins High replacement facility which is on schedule to be occupied when the 2021-22 SY year begins in August. The New Hampstead K8 which is now projected to be ready for occupancy for the start of the 2nd semester of the 2021-22SY and the K-12 Multi School Campus in Garden City which is projected to be ready for occupancy by the start of the 2023-24 SY.
The Beach High Auditorium is essentially complete with some landscaping and interior cleaning underway. The Woodville Tompkins Gym and Auditorium work is progressing with Move-in expected in December. The Savannah High Stadium, Field & Track is having lighting and the scoreboard installed, and the Savannah Arts Academy renovations are currently in the design phase.
Beach High Auditorium Name Proposed – First Read
A naming committee for the new Beach High Auditorium has unanimously recommended the new Beach High Auditorium 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. This is a first reading of the proposed name. A second reading will be conducted, and the name will be voted on at the July 2021 meeting of the Board of Education.
Technology Purchases Approved
ERATE Eligible Wide Area Network (WAN) Connectivity
The Board approved the first contract renewal of RFP 18-35 ERATE Eligible Wide Area Network (WAN) Connectivity to Comcast Business Communications, LLC at an estimated annual cost of $1,056,000.00 for one (1) year with the option to renew for one (1) additional one (1) year period.
Phone Replacement
The Board approved the use of Georgia’s Statewide Contract #99999-SPD-T20120501-0006 and ratify the purchases of 3,782 phones and 53 VOIP routers from Prosys Information Systems, Inc. at a total cost of $821,707.26.
New Firewall
The Board approved the purchase of a next generation firewall with associated security features and licenses from A3 Communications, Inc. under the awarded contract with NASPO ValuePoint. This purchase includes the following: Palo Alto PA-5260 firewall capable of increasing our primary Internet connection from 10 Gb/s to 30 Gb/s, associated security licenses and features, and support for 5 years. The total cost for these services is $707,844.02.
Technology Hardware and Software
The Board approved the 1st contract renewal of RFP #19-11 Technology Hardware and Software (Annual Contract) to Arey Jones Educational Solutions and Prosys Information Systems, Inc. for an additional one (1) year period with all terms and conditions remaining the same at an estimated cost of $3,000,000. The contract provides for Arey Jones Educational Solutions to supply and install the District’s workstations and printers and for Prosys Information Systems, Inc. to supply peripheral items with percentage discounts for other computer hardware and software. Equipment and services will be purchased on an as needed basis.
Multimedia Classroom Presentation Systems
The Board approved the award of RFP 21-28 Multimedia Classroom Presentation Systems (Annual Contract) for an estimated first year contract amount of $700,000.00 with the option to renew for two (2) additional twelve (12) month periods for the installation of multimedia classroom presentation systems at various schools as needed.
New Vehicles Approved for Campus Police
The Board approved the purchase of vehicles from Wade Ford as part of the Statewide Contract Vehicle Purchase Contract. Campus Police will purchase eleven Ford Explorers at a total cost of $376,695
YMCA Contract for Before and After School Care Extended
the Board approve the extension of RFP #15-74, Before and After School Care Services (Annual Contract), for a one (1) year to YMCA of Coastal Georgia, Inc. of Savannah, Georgia, at no cost to the district. The YMCA of Coastal Georgia’s YBASE program has incorporated the CDC Guidelines into their COVID 19 Strategies and Protocols. The YMCA has requested a price increase. The weekly tuition scale for the 2021-22 school year will be as follows:
STATUS | AFTERNOON SESSIONS | MORNING SESSIONS | BOTH SESSIONS |
Full
| $35.00
| $23.00
| $45.00
|
Reduced (Lunch Status)
| $30.00
| $21.00
| $38.00
|
Free (Lunch Status)
| $23.00
| $18.00
| $29.00
|
Registration Fee (One-time Fee)
| $40.00
| $40.00
| $40.00
|
Personnel Moves
A number of personnel moves were approved by the Board on June 2nd. Some highlights are listed below. Join us in congratulating the following employees!
Matthew Bertasso has been named Interim Principal of Savannah Arts Academy.
Lesley Jordan has been named Interim Principal of Godley Station School.
Joanna Brooks has been named Interim Principal of Windsor Forest High.
Sonji Leach has been named Interim Principal of Southwest Middle School.
Latila Slay has been named Interim Principal of Butler Elementary.
Christina Tucker has been named Interim Principal of Pulaski Elementary.
Craig Daughtry has been named Interim Principal of Beach High School.
And Doreen Oliver has been named Legal Compliance Officer for the Legal Office.
Upcoming Meetings
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 6:00PM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G
2 Laura Avenue
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING FOR FINAL BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATE ADOPTION
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 6:30PM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G
2 Laura Avenue
BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, June 24, 2021 – 8:00 AM
Whitney Administrative Complex - Building G
2 Laura Avenue
