October 9, 2024 Board Brief

Highlights from the October 9, 2024 Board Meeting

Third Grade Reading Report

At the Informal Meeting, the Board received a third grade “Reading on Grade Level” report. A look at scores over the past three years show gains trending upward.  While still behind the state scores, SCCPSS has exceeded those of the comparison group over the past two years. The report detailed current challenges and opportunities, as well as key literacy strategies for this school year.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D7HP42623750

SY 2023-24 Student Discipline Report

Also in the Informal Meeting, Board members were presented with information on Student Discipline during the 2023-24 SY.  The Weighted Suspension Rate used by GaDOE in computing student discipline was detailed and district rates for the past three years presented. The numbers show a decrease across all grade bands except Middle grades in the 2023-24 SY versus the previous year. The most prevalent referrals were for Student Incivility, Fighting, Disorderly Conduct, and Attendance. The report detailed Key Actions underway in the 2024-25 SY with the aim of decreasing student behavior referrals and incidents as measured by the weighted suspension rate.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D7HP43623751

Waiver of School Days

Multiple instructional days have been missed this school year due to the impacts on our area of Hurricanes Debby and Helene moving through the Southeast. The District’s Strategic Waiver Contract offers flexibility from identified state law, rules, and regulations. In accordance with Board Policy BDH through Administrative Regulation BDH-R(1): Suspension of Policies/Waivers, the Board approved the use of waivers for the missed school days listed below:

 

• Tuesday, August 6, 2024 (DEBBY)

• Wednesday, August 7, 2024 (DEBBY)

• Thursday, August 8, 2024 (DEBBY)

• Monday, September 30, 2024 (HELENE)

• Tuesday, October 1, 2024 (HELENE)

• Wednesday, October 2, 2024 (HELENE)

Staff has determined the use of this waiver is appropriate and limits further disruptions to the academic calendar. Based on the timing of school days missed at the very beginning of the school year and those additional days missed near the close of first quarter, the remaining school year provides ample time to overcome instructional impacts.

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Student of the Month Recognized

 The Superintendent’s Student of the Month for September is Steven Garcia, a fourth grader at Gould Elementary School. Congratulations, Steven!

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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=D8XPY666D9C8

 Proclamation:  School Bus Safety and Transportation Week

The Board proclaimed the week of October 21-25, 2024, be observed as School Bus Safety and Transportation Appreciation Week in recognition of the contribution drivers and other school transportation staff make to our public education system.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D8XPZW671882

 Proclamation:  National School Lunch Week

The Board proclaimed the week of October 14-18, 2024, as NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK and encourages all residents to join us in this recognition in hopes of achieving a more healthful citizenry for today and the future.

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 Proclamation:  Custodial Workers Day

The Board recognizes and supports the nationally recognized date of October 2, 2024, as National Custodial Worker’s Recognition Day and encourage all citizens to join us and celebrate their daily contributions all through the month of October.

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Proclamation: National School Principals Month

The Board asks our entire community to join us in recognizing the month of October 2024 as National School Principals Month! On behalf of the Board of Education and the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, we extend our sincere appreciation for every school principal in our school system and across this nation.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D8XQ2J672899

Proclamation: Literacy Week in Savannah

The Board proclaimed October 15-19, 2024, as Literacy Week and encourage all citizens to join us in celebrating the importance of literacy and to recognize the great work of every teacher, student, parent, and community member who are committed to improving literacy in our schools and community.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92MUD5CEC3C

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson also stopped by the meeting to present the City's proclamation in support of Literacy Week.

Policy First Reads

Policy GAE(3) – Complaints and Grievances Non-certified Employees (Four Year Review)

• No Policy Changes • Recommended Regulation Changes Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAE(3) along with the supporting regulation. There are no substantive changes recommended for Board Policy. Certain grammatical modifications have been applied. Changes are now presented for the Administrative Regulation that will provide an improved process under requests for review of Employment Actions – Classified Employees by eliminating the employee’s immediate supervisor as the first level review of appeal.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92MWH5D3BAE

Board Policy GBE: Professional Personnel Assignment and Regulation (Mid Period Review – No Change Recommended) • No Policy Changes • Changes Recommended for Regulation only District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBE: Professional Personnel Assignment along with the supporting Regulation. There are no changes recommended for the Board Policy. The Administrative Regulation has been updated for current staff title references and clarity on intended language.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92MWX5D4C34

Policy JGCD – Medication (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes • Recommended Regulation Changes Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JGCD along with the supporting regulation. There are no changes recommended for Board Policy. The Administrative Regulation is being modified with improved language that strengthens District procedures and align with current practices. Language references to the use of Naloxone has also been included.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92N2H5DD1B8

Policy GAK – Personnel Records (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAK along with the supporting Regulation and has determined changes are needed to update titles and language in Board Policy. There are no changes recommended to the Administrative Regulation.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92MWW5D4980

Policy Adopted

Policy GARH – Employee Leave and Absences (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GARH and has determined changes are needed to update language in Board Policy to align with updates in state law regarding Paid Parental Leave.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D7HNTS615A82

Policy JH – Student Activities (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JH along with the supporting Regulation and has determined changes are needed for improved language and clarity.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D7HNTP615A7E

Other Board Actions and Updates

Oglethorpe Academy Charter Renewal

The Board approved a five-year charter contract renewal with some recommendations for Oglethorpe Charter School. Recommendations include continuing to address learning loss and consistently meeting all academic performance standards outlined in the Charter Contract, developing and implementing instructional strategies to engage all students in high-quality rigorous core instruction, and employ systematic progress monitoring, develop and implement a comprehensive Professional Development plan, develop a monthly Board Training Plan, and a revised strategic plan focused on continuous improvement. The following factors were cited in the Committee’s support of Oglethorpe’s renewal: First and oldest Charter School in the State of Georgia, Stable School Leadership and Board Governance, Strong Parent Engagement and Community Support, Alignment of the curriculum with Georgia Standards of Excellence, standards-based classroom instruction, and enhanced grade-level support, and improvement in Student Achievement in SY 2024. The charter contract will conclude on June 30, 2030.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D8YHDS480996

Grant Approved for Literacy Support Coaches

The Georgia Department of Education has awarded Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools $244,025 for the FY25 Title I-A School Improvement Literacy Support Coaches Grant. The Board approved to increase the FY 2025 Grant revenue and expenditure budgets by $244,025 to align the local budget.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92Q6467B969

GaLEADS Grant Approved

The Georgia Department of Education has awarded Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools an additional $189,466 for fiscal year 2024 GaLEADS grant. Our district was chosen as a GaLEADS Pilot for Teachers. The following six schools were chosen for the pilot: Woodville-Tompkins High School, New Hampstead High School, Savannah Classical Academy Charter, West Chatham Middle, New Hampstead K-8, and Bloomingdale Elementary. GaLEADS is designed to be a teacher evaluation system that values and elevates educators with the goal of supporting student success. The Board approved the budget amendment.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D96EE23A02FD

Local Beef Contract Approved for SCCPSS School Nutrition Program

The Board approved the award of Bid 25-07 Local Beef for K-12 Schools (Annual Contract) to Hunter Cattle Company of Brooklet, GA for a one-year period with two (2) additional one-year renewals in the estimated annual amount of $122,000.00. The purpose of the bid request was to purchase grass-fed, grass-finished fresh beef products to be added to school menus. The focus of this project is to increase the quality of student meals and to satisfy School Nutrition’s “Farm to School” and “Locally-Grown” initiatives.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D93KQ752A0ED

Design Services Contract Approved for Largo-Tibet Improvements

The Board approved the contract with Barnard Architects for design services for Largo-Tibet Improvements using RFQ C23-07 for a total design professional fee of $252,000.00 based on the $4,000,000.00 stated cost limitation.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D99PUW666074

ESPLOST UPDATES

Audio Enhancement Systems Integration and Upgrades

The Board approved funds for Audio Enhancement of 8 schools for the FY2025 and FY2026 projects. Those schools are:

• Rice Creek K-8 - $654,000

• Hesse K-8- $700,000

• New Hampstead HS - $700,000

• White Bluff - $480,000

• Ellis K-8 - $395,000

• Savannah HS/Early College - $856,000

• Islands HS - $643,000

• Johnson HS - $670,000

 

The Audio Enhancement systems integration project includes upgrades to the intercom, safety communications, and classroom audio-visual systems district-wide.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D92Q6767BCBA

Design Professional Services Contract Approved for Georgetown K-8 Renovation

The Board approved a contract with Cogdell & Mendrala Architects, PC, for Design Services for Georgetown K-8 Renovation & Addition under RFQ C22-04 at a total design professional fee of $1,275,000.00. The Construction Cost Limitation is $22,800,000.00. The fee for these services is includes the design, civil engineering services, landscape architecture services, geotechnical investigation services, surveying services, permitting, bidding, and construction administration.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D96EDJ39EF47

West Chatham Elementary Renovation Budget Transfer

The Board approved a budget transfer within the ESPLOST IV budget in the amount of $10,480,000 to provide funding for a West Chatham Elementary School Renovation.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D93JYE4F73F8

Georgetown K-8 Renovation Budget Transfer

The Board approved a budget transfer within the ESPLOST IV budget in the amount of $17,650,000 to add additional funding to support the design and construction services needed for the Georgetown K-8 Renovation project.

https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D96EEA3A0C48

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Literacy Week

October 15-18, 2024

Districtwide

Capital Improvement Committee Meeting and Public Hearing

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – 9:00am

Whitney Administrative Complex

Audit Committee Meeting

Thursday, October 24, 2024 – 8am

Whitney Administrative Complex