Transportation Update
At the Informal Board Meeting, the Board received a report on Transportation ridership and concerns as we began the 2021-22 SY. Details on COVID mitigation strategies were discussed which include daily sanitizing of buses, a mask requirement for riders and drivers, and assigned seating. Ridership is being evaluated and additional students are being routed as non-riders are removed from routes. Additionally, driver concerns regarding pay and bus capacity were discussed.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67LY657EFE0
DISTRICT STRATEGIC 5-YEAR PLAN: THE WAY FORWARD 2026 APPROVED
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System in partnership with Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) and the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) developed a 5-year Strategic Improvement Plan for the district. The Strategic Plan consists of a Vision and Mission statement, Guiding Principles, Priority Goals, and Performance Objectives. Supporting each of the Performance Objectives are one or more Performance Measures, Strategies, and Action Items. The Strategic Plan specifies what the Superintendent and District staff will focus on to accomplish each of the Board's Priority Goals and Performance Objectives. This 5-year Strategic Plan will help guide the work of the School Board and Superintendent to achieve its overall mission.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RFH6DB0C9
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent's Student of the Month for August is Karma Outland, a 5th grader from the School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary. Congratulations, Karma!
Policy First Reads
Board Policy FF: Facilities Project Financing (Four Year Review) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy FF. Minor changes have been included based on guidance from the Board Attorney.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67LTK57DC92
Policy DO and Regulation DO-R School Properties Disposal Procedures (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy DO along with the supporting regulation and has determined changes are needed to align the policy and regulation with current procedures.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67LTR57DC98
Policy IB – Instructional Program Goals and Objectives (Four Year Review – Deletion of Policy Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IB. This policy is recommended for deletion as Board Policy BA – Goals and Objectives sets forth the Board's and the District's goals and objectives.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RER6D65AD
Policy EA – Business Management Goals and Objectives (Four Year Review – Deletion of Policy Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EA. This policy is recommended for deletion as Board Policy BA – Goals and Objectives sets forth the Board's and the District's goals and objectives.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RES6D68AA
Regulation JCEB – Student Hearing Procedures (Mid-Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JCEB along with the supporting regulation. No changes are recommended for the Board policy; however, changes to the regulation are required to bring language up to date with current position/title references.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RET6D6A0B
Policy JGH and Regulation JGH-R - Food Service, Deletion (Four Year Review - Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JGH along with the supporting regulation and has determined a need to delete Board Policy and Regulation JGH & JGH-R Food Service and address the deleted information from JGH within the newly created Board Regulation EE-R, Food Services Management. This action properly places the District's food service management requirements in the business management section of the Board Policy Manual.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67REU6D6E38
Regulation EE-R - Food Services Management (New Regulation) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JGH along with the supporting regulation and has determined a need to delete Board Policy and Regulation JGH & JGH-R Food Service and address the deleted information from JGH in a newly created Board Regulation EE-R, Food Services Management. This action properly places the District's food service requirements in the business management section of the Board Policy Manual.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C6FSRR6ECC8F
Policy GAE (2) and GAE(2) - R – Complaints and Grievances, Certified Employees (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAE along with the supporting regulation and determined a need for changes in both the policy and regulation to update language based on recommendations from GSBA. Updates were provided for further clarification based on changes that occurred during the 2021 Legislative Session and the creation of Policy GBIA. GSBA guidance provides for the elimination of inconsistencies by giving precedence to the most recent statute and eliminating the “procedural deficiencies" language from Policy GAE.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C6FSRX6EDE77
Policy Adoptions
Board Policy and Regulation BCBI & BCBI-R– Public Participation in Board Meetings (Mid-Year Review – changes recommended) Board Policy BCBI has been modified to adhere to the recent changes to the State law that went into effect on July 1, 2021. The supporting regulation is recommended for deletion as the updated policy covers the process in accordance with state law. The Policy update was presented for First Read at the August 2021 Regular meeting of the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RHE6E10D0
Policy AE: School Year (Four Year Review - Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy AE: School Year and has determined a need for minor changes in updating the language within the policy. The Policy update was presented for First Read at the August 2021 Regular meeting of the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RHF6E117B
Policy IDCH and Regulation IDCH-R: Dual Enrollment (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IDCH Dual Enrollment along with the supporting regulation and has determined a need for changes to align with new State guidelines. The Policy update was presented for First Read at the August 2021 Regular meeting of the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RHG6E13F8
Policy BA: Goals and Objectives (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BA: Goals and Objectives and has determined changes are needed to align with the new five-year strategic plan that is scheduled for adoption during the September 2021 Board meeting. The Policy update was presented for First Read at the August 2021 Regular meeting of the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RHH6E14C0
COVID-19 MITIGATION: Suspension of Item 3 (Mass Screenings) Regulation JGC-R for the 2021-2022 School Year/Regulation JGC-R: Student Health Services
Considering the impacts of the ongoing global pandemic associated with COVID-19, the Nursing Leadership Team of the Human Resources Division seeks to suspend mass screening activities enumerated within the Administrative Regulation of Board Policy JGC Student Health Services. This suspension shall pertain to item #3 “annual screenings of hearing and vision" and shall remain suspended until conditions allow for safe operation.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C6FSWM6FF3AA
Resolution Celebrates Former Board Member and State Rep. Edward Mickey Stephens
A Board Resolution recognizing the contributions of former Board Member and State Representative Edward Mickey Stephens, who passed away on Saturday, August 14, 2021, was read into record for adoption by the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C6FSS76EEFCC
RESOLUTION Celebrates Former Board Member and SCCPSS Employee Ellis Daniel Frazier A Board Resolution recognizing the contributions of former Board Member and SCCPSS employee Ellis Daniel Frazier, who passed away on Friday, August 27, 2021, was read into record for adoption by the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C6FSSE6EF1D4
ESPLOST UPDATES
Facilities staff presented an update to Board Members on ESPLOST III projects currently underway. Those include:
Jenkins High – Staff/students are occupying new building. Punch list for this phase nears completion. Site work continues on parking lots and playing fields. Scope of construction contract is approximately 85% complete.
New Hampstead K-8 – In progress: Landscaping, terrazzo, playground equipment install, Kitchen equipment install, ceiling tile installs in Lower School, gym floor.
K-12 Multi-School Campus - Construction Masonry walls are being erected; footing and slab pouring continues along with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installation.
Savannah Arts Academy Renovation – Design Construction bid on hold, due to current economic conditions. Latest estimates are much higher than our current budget, due to COVID-related production and transportation issues throughout the construction industry. Monitoring the market.
Woodville Tompkins Gym and Auditorium Construction In progress: Architectural, mechanical, electrical, punchlist performed, Temporary Certificate of Occupancy on Phase I issued on 7/20/2021. Demo of items in existing gym, overhead HVAC, plumbing, electrical Phase II.
Savannah High Stadium - In progress: site work, field house interior work, bathroom fixtures, artificial turf field and track install, entrance awning install.
See the complete report here:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C67RKT6E6ADF
Personnel Moves
Some personnel moves were approved by the Board on September 8th. Some highlights are listed below. Join us in congratulating the following employees!
Troy Brown has been named Interim Senior Officer, Elementary and K8 Schools.
Renee Bryant-Evans has been named Interim Senior Officer, School Transformation & Innovation.
Sharonda Murrell has been named Interim Director of School Improvement, Secondary Schools.
DeMarcos Holland has been named Interim Senior Officer, Secondary Schools.
Upcoming Meetings
Board & Superintendent Retreat
Day 1- Thursday, September 16, 2021
8:30AM-5:00PM
Oatland Island Wildlife Center
(711 Sandtown Rd, Savannah, GA 31410).
Day 2- Friday, September 17, 2021
8:30AM-2:00PM
Oatland Island Wildlife Center
(711 Sandtown Rd, Savannah, GA 31410).
Fair Dismissal Hearing
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
9:00AM-5:00PM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G.
