Highlights from the March 1, 2023 Board Meeting
Board Workshop to Discuss Superintendent Search
Facilitator Charles McMillan presented information to the Board regarding the timeline, Board roles, and associated activities regarding the search for a new Superintendent of Schools. The presentation was followed by Board discussion.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CPCP6W632748
Literacy Initiatives
An Academic Excellence Committee Meeting was held as part of the Informal Meeting on Wednesday. A report on literacy initiatives was presented to the Board. The report included a look at the factors that can influence a student's literacy success as well as a number of initiatives both in and outside the classroom that the district has implemented to try to overcome obstacles.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N825D63AF
Charter School Annual Reports
Annual reports were presented to the Board at the Informal Meeting from both Oglethorpe Charter School and Savannah Classical Academy. See those reports attached below.
Oglethorpe Charter School
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N845D63B1
Savannah Classical Academy
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NCY5EA189
Board of Assessors Annual Update
Also at the Informal Meeting, a representative from the Chatham County Board of Assessors gave a report on the Chatham County tax digest in preparation for work on the budget. The report showed property values throughout Chatham County continuing to rise.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NDL5ED18B
National School Breakfast Week and National School Nutrition Month
The Board proclaimed March 6-10, 2023, as National School Breakfast Week and the month of March as National Nutrition Month. The 2023 School Breakfast Program theme “Dig into School Breakfast," serves to captivate students and stakeholders by drawing attention to the importance and benefits of school nutrition programs. National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N595D5945
National School Social Worker Week
The Board proclaimed March 6-10, 2023, as National School Social Worker Week. This year the theme for National School Social Workers Week is “Social Work Breaks Barriers." Social Workers empower individuals and communities, helping them fulfill their greatest potential.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N5A5D5946
School Board Appreciation Week
Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools are joining a statewide celebration to salute the efforts of local school board members this month. The week of March 13-17, 2023 has been proclaimed by the Governor of the State of Georgia as School Board Appreciation Week. The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of local Boards of Education thanking those who serve and those who demonstrate a strong commitment to quality public education in our great state.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NG25FA455
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent's Student of the Month for February is Mustafa Khaksar, a Kindergartener at Windsor Forest Elementary School. Congratulations, Mustafa!
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N5C5D5948
Superintendent's Professional Senate Report
A report from the latest meeting of the Superintendent's Professional Senate was presented by our District Teacher and Instructional Support Persons of the Year.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N5D5D5949
Policy First Reads
Policy JGFF and Regulation JGFF-R – Automobile Use (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JGFF along with the supporting regulation and determined a need for changes. Minor changes to the policy have been made. The regulation has been revised to clarify language concerning student on-campus automobile use.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NGD5FCDA2
Policy JGJA – Suicide Prevention (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JGJA and determined changes are needed to align with current District procedures and best practice.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NGH5FD184
Policy IFBGA and Regulation IFBGA-R(0) –Electronic Communications (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IFBGA along with the supporting regulation and determined a need for changes. Minor changes to the policy have been made to remove unnecessary language. The regulation has been revised to reflect the current process for email usage concerning sensitive information and an update to user restrictions for mailbox storage.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NGJ5FD253
Policy GAM and Regulation GAM-R– Staff Rights and Responsibilities (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended – Policy Only) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAM and determined policy changes are needed to ensure timely response by employees when reporting a violation. No change to the regulation is needed.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NGK5FD3C3
Policy BBAB – Duties of Board Members (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BBAB. Language has been updated to also include an order of succession during public events that specifies the Board Officers as representatives. The District representative where the venue is held may also serve as the Board designee in the event Board Officers are not available.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3NGL5FD543
Energy Conservation Services - Georgia Power – HVAC Bipolar Ionization Systems – Phase II
The Board approved the contract with Georgia Power for HVAC Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) Bipolar Ionization Systems Installations for a lump sum pricing of $625,748.00. Georgia Power will provide construction, supervision, inspection, labor, materials, tools, construction equipment and subcontracted items as needed for the execution and completion of the Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) for HVAC Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) Bipolar Ionization Systems Installation for seven (7) identified schools (Beach High School, Charles Ellis Montessori, Coastal GA Comprehensive, Gadsden Elementary, Hubert Middle School, Johnson High School, and Massie Heritage Center).
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP9M5K598A61
ESPLOST Updates
Budget Update Approved to Include Higher ESPLOST Revenue Collection
The Board approved the budget amendment and allocation of additional funds to the ESPLOST IV Contingency account in the amount of $38,000,000 to align align revenue source budgets with final anticipated recognized amounts.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP9M5D59879E
Site Approval Applications Approved by the Board for Submission to GaDOE
Site approval requests for several ESPLOST IV projects were approved by the Board for submission to the Georgia Department of Education.
Bloomingdale Replacement School Site Approval Application Sought
The Board approved the district submitting an application for site approval for the Bloomingdale School Replacement project to be built on the existing site with a variance request. The new school facility is planned for 1,000 FTE which according to State guidelines will require a 15-acre site. The existing site is 10.7 acres resulting in the need for a site variance.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N6H5D596D
Godley Station K8 Site Addition Approval Request
The Board approved the district submitting an application for site approval for the Godley Station K-8 addition.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N6J5D596E
Pulaski Site Addition for K8 Approval Request
The Board approved the District submitting an application for site approval for the Pulaski Elementary School addition as part of the transition of Pulaski from an elementary school to a K8.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N6K5D596F
ESPLOST Projects Progress Report
An update on ESPLOST projects currently underway was presented to the Board at the Regular Meeting. Those updates included:
K-12 Multi-School Project – Under construction. Enclosure, Terazzo, M&E Rough-ins and interior finishes are being completed. A bid for demolition will go out this month for the old Campus Police Annex. A bid for construction of the stadium/fieldhouse and athletic fields will go out in April.
Windsor Forest HS Replacement - In Design Phase. Summer work will concentrate on temporary measures for 2023-2025 school needs. The Complete replacement building is expected to be completed in August 2025.
Bloomingdale ES Replacement - In Design Phase. Demolition of the current facility is expected to occur this Summer.
Savannah Arts Academy Kitchen, Cafeteria Addition, interior renovations, HVAC, parking upgrades – Under Construction. Roofing and enclosure work for the cafeteria addition is underway; HVAC replacement work has started along with classroom renovations. Occupancy of the cafeteria is expected in August 2023.
See the complete report here:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CP3N6S5D5976
External ESPLOST Audit
The Board accepted and officially approved the Annual ESPLOST Audit for the year ended June 30, 2022. The independent accountant's report indicates that the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System complied, in all material respects, with Article VIII, Section VI, Paragraph IV of the Georgia Constitution and Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 48-8-141 regarding expenditure of sales tax for educational
purposes during the year ended June 30, 2022.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CPBTF476D01D
PERSONNEL MOVES
Robert Rodriquez has been named the Deputy Chief-Major in our Campus Police Department.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Two Day Board/Superintendent Retreat
Day 1-Thursday, March 23, 2023 - 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Road, Savannah
Day 2- Friday, March 24, 2023 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Road, Savannah
District 7 Townhall Meeting
Thursday, March 30, 2023 - 6:00 PM
Pooler Elementary School, 308 Holly Ave, Pooler
