Highlights from the May 7, 2025 Board Meeting

Student Attendance Update

At the Informal Meeting of the Board, a report on the district’s efforts to improve student attendance rates was presented. Updates for Policy JBA & Regulation JBA R1 regarding compulsory attendance were discussed with recommendations for Definitions of Truancy and Unexcused Absences, Attendance Recovery and Remote Attendance Option, Attendance Waiver Revision and Guidance, Addition of a No Credit Grading Code and Attendance Strategies and Penalties to Address Truancy outlined. In addition, the implications of Senate Bill 123, passed by the Georgia Legislature this spring were also addressed.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG2J434B4CA2

Student Senate Overview

A report on the Superintendent’s Student Senate was also presented at the Informal Meeting.  The Superintendent detailed recommendations that would provide support to help the district’s students thrive. Those recommendations included creating a section on SCCPSS.com focused on student needs and resources, separate academic and personal counselors, expanding the Peer Mediator Program to all high schools, and creating an anonymous tip line for bullying, safety threats, and mental health concerns.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFMPPC658E40

Charter Schools Annual Reports

At the Informal Meeting of the Board of Education, Annual Reports were presented by three of the district’s five Charter Schools. Find the reports from Savannah Classical Academy, Susie King Taylor Charter School, and Tybee Island Maritime Academy below:

Savannah Classical Academy

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG6L5654D5AF

Susie King Taylor Charter School

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFMN5D5E35B1

Tybee Island Maritime Academy

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFMN5C5E35B0

Student of the Month Recognized

The Superintendent’s Student of the Month for April is Tyler Elliott, a senior at Windsor Forest High School. Congratulations, Tyler!

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXE53D817

 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.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXG53D819

School Nurses Week

The Board proclaimed May 7, 2025, as National School Nurse Day. School nurses are considered anintegral part of the educational process contributing to the well-being of every child to ensure all students achieve success in school.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXS53D823

National Teacher Appreciation Week

The Board proclaimed May 5-9, 2025, as National Teacher Appreciation Week and asked that all citizens take time throughout the month of May to thank a teacher for their significant contributions.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFMPRS65E510

Policy First Reads

Policy BCAEA – Hearings (Appeals) (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BCAEA and has determined changes are needed for improved language and clarity with specific notation of the right to appeal after the local Board has rendered a decision.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG2J5K4B7F33

Policy CED– Superintendent Appointment (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy CED. There are no changes recommended to the Board.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG2J694B9F05

Policy FG – Facilities Projects Administration (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy FG along with regulation FG-R. Revisions have been provided based on recommendations from the Board attorney and to align with Federal requirements.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXP53D820

Policy FD – Facilities Long Range Planning (Mid Period Review) • Policy Changes Recommended District Administration has reviewed Board Policy FD and determined changes are needed to update the process in Board Policy to align with federal requirements.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG2J6T4BB356

2026-2027 & 2027-2028 Academic Calendars Approved

The District formulated draft versions of the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Academic School Calendar for review and discussion during the April 9, 2025, Board meeting. Both calendars maintain a 180 day academic schedule. The calendar development process considers the framework from the previously adopted 2025-2026 Academic Calendar and considers certain scheduling components that are unique to our area including periodic breaks aligned to the observance of federal holidays and major community events.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXT53D824

Policy Adopted

Policy BBBE – Board Member Compensation and Expenses (Four Year Review) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE - Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BBBE and offers revisions for clarity related to compensation and to update legislative actions that provide for authorization.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXJ53D81B

Policy GAN – Employee Tobacco Use (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAN and has determined changes are needed to update language and process in Board Policy for improved clarity and specific references to “tobacco” products. This Board Policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent. During the March 5th meeting of the Board, this policy review was tabled. With approval from the Board to remove this item from the table, this policy will be presented for first read.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXL53D81D

Policy JCDB – Student Dress Code (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JCDB to implement certain modifications to the Student Dress Code including a specific inclusion for school “spirit wear” as an allowable component of the dress code.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXM53D81E

Policy JBC (1) – Homeless Students (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JBC (1) and has determined changes are needed to remove vague language, improve formatting, and make clear references to related policies. Additional updates have been made based on recommendations from the Board.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXN53D81F

Policy JGCB – Student Immunizations (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes • Changes Recommended for Regulation only Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JGCB along with the supporting regulation. There are no changes recommended for the Board Policy. The regulation JGCB-R has been updated to include appropriate references to the required Georgia DPH form for “Religious Objection”, and to include personnel as designated by the school principal to have authority to complete student records for verification of immunization.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKXQ53D821

Other Board Actions and Updates

Budget Transfer Approved for Modular Classroom Rental for Pulaski K-8

To accommodate increased enrollment at Pulaski K-8, temporary modular classrooms will be provided. The modular unit includes six classrooms and boys and girls bathrooms. The modular classrooms will be leased from Mobile Modular Management Corporation, through E&I Cooperative Services Contract Number CNR01522. The proposal is for a 24-month lease at a cost of $546,263.20.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKYH53D83A

Nearpod Plus and Flocabulary Plus Software Purchase Approved

The Board approved the “Sole Source” purchase of Nearpod and Flocabulary Services Software from Renaissance Learning, Inc. at a total cost of $304,108.80.  The Nearpod and Flocabulary software provides a way for teachers to make any K-12 lesson interactive whether in the classroom or virtual. SCCPSS teachers and students have been utilizing Nearpod for the past four years - creating and utilizing more than 3,000,000 lessons for students K-12 across 51 schools. The district’s purchase will allow for complete Nearpod platform accessibility and training for teachers to become Nearpod Certified educators.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKYQ53D841

Let’s Talk Subscription Approved

The Let’s Talk subscription is a customer service and intelligence platform built specifically for education to enhance engagement with families and the school community. This solution is available 24/7 and provides two-way communication fully integrated with the District’s website. This technology streamlines the approach to inbound communications including a chatbot mechanism with real-time content delivery that also provides appropriate departmental contact information to connect stakeholders with staff for additional support when needed. The Board approved a three year subscription at a total cost of $452,100.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKYS53D843

MOU with Chatham Emergency Management Approved

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Chatham Emergency Management governing sharing of resources when Chatham County is faced with natural or man-made disasters.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKZD53D856

Summer School Program Budget Transfer Approved

The Board approved a budget transfer within the General Fund in the amount of $2,720,961 for expenses associated with the district’s 2025 Summer EXCEL Learning and Enrichment Programs.  The goals of the Summer EXCEL are to: • Provide credit acquisition and recovery opportunities for students in grades 10–12 • Support grade recovery and promotion for students in grades 3–12 • Offer targeted instructional support through blended learning models • Deliver literacy enrichment for English learners in grades K–3 • Expand access to enrichment experiences through camps, apprenticeships, and career exposure.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG3HW34A6908

Lease of Georgia Tech Property Approved for Office Space During Central Office Renovation

The Board approved the rental agreement for District use of property located upon the Savannah campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology as office space for some Central Office staff during the upcoming renovation of 208 Bull Street. The lease agreement is for just over four years at a total cost of $2,554,988.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DFAKYZ53D84A

Purchase of 10 New Buses Approved

The Board approved the purchase of ten (10) Type D school buses from Yancey Bus Sales and Service utilizing Statewide contract SWC 999999-SPD-SWL20200630-0001 at a total cost of $2,067,200.00.  The new 84-passenger buses will update and replace some aging buses in the District’s fleet.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG3KQD513839

Replacement Chromebooks and HP Laptops Purchase Approved

The Board approved the purchase of 12,000 HP Chromebooks and 280 HP laptops from Arey Jones Educational Solutions using the District contract awarded under RFP 24-07 in the amount of $ 5,173,600.00.  The Chromebook purchases will replace obsolete devices and help to maintain a modern 1:1 student device ratio. The HP Laptops will replace Chromebooks currently used by SCELA students with devices that will provide additional flexibility when using specialized instructional applications.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG7J674B9C81

Audio Enhancement Contract Approved

The Board approved the award of RFP 25-26 Audio Enhancement (Annual Contract) to NetPlanner Systems, Inc. for an initial performance period of one (1) year, with an estimated annual cost of 4,750,000. The Audio Enhancement systems integration project includes upgrades to school intercom systems, classroom communications, and classroom audio-visual systems district-wide. Thirty-two (32) schools/sites have been identified for this audio enhancement systems integration and upgrade, with nine (9) being scheduled for work this Summer 2025.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG8FZ6418000

Five Year Local Facilities Plan Approved

Under Georgia law, school districts are required to complete a comprehensive education facilities survey and submit a new facility plan to the Department of Education for approval every 5 years. The District’s current local facilities plan will expire on June 30, 2025. The next Local Facilities Plan with a 5-year FTE projection period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029 has been completed in accordance with the State mandated procedures. The plan identifies all needs to safely house students in an atmosphere that supports the instructional programs of the District. In addition, the plan includes the priority order of school projects. The Board adopted a resolution to approve the new 5-year Local Facilities Plan and request that it be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG2JNF4DFDD1

ESPLOST News

Design Professional Services Approved for Garden City Elementary Renovation

ESPLOST IV includes renovations of Garden City Elementary School. After extensive evaluation a detailed scope of work was developed by the proposed architectural design team and staff. The Board approved the contract under RFQ C25-04 On Call Design Professional Services (Annual Contract) with SSOE, Inc. for Design Service for the Garden City Elementary School Renovations project at a total Design Professional Fee of $940,727.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DG3KAG50ED37

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Capital Improvement Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 13, 2025-2:00PM

Whitney Administrative Complex

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, May 14, 2025-9:00 AM

Whitney Administrative Complex

May Day at Massie Heritage Center

Wednesday, May 14, 2025-10:30AM

Massie Heritage Center

 

Board Public Hearing on Budget #2

Wednesday, May 14, 2025-6:00 PM

Whitney Administrative Complex

Graduation Week (Find Complete Schedule on SCCPSS.com)

May 19^th – 22^nd

Enmarket Arena

Last Day of School

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Memorial Day

Holiday for All

Monday, May 26, 2025

June Regular Board Meeting

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 – 2pm

Whitney Administrative Complex

Shuman Closure Public Hearing #1

Wednesday, June 4, 2025-5:30pm

Whitney Administrative Complex