Highlights from the November 3, 2021 Board Meeting
Post-Secondary Accelerated Options
At the Informal Meeting, Board members received a report on Post-Secondary Accelerated Options. Post-secondary accelerated options include Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment (DE), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and their associated standardized exams. COVID impacted all Postsecondary Accelerated Options measures by procedural changes and other factors. For this reason, SY 2020-21 data is not comparable to prior years; one-year and three-year change calculations along with historical references are omitted from this year's report. In SY 2020-21, 1,850 students successfully completed one or more AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses. The district's PAO completion rate was 20%, with school rates ranging from 3% to 64%. See the full report here: http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MJB560C1D
Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities Operational Update
Board Members were also updated on the District's Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activity operations during the pandemic. Capacity for both indoor and outdoor events were discussed, along with mask requirements. COVID screening at games and no-cost testing for athletes prior to games are mitigation steps that have been implemented. See the full report here:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MS4566629
Transportation Update
Also at the Informal Meeting, an update on District Transportation was offered. The district is still in need of more drivers in order to transport all students, but based on the number of students currently eligible for and not utilizing transportation, the Transportation Division is looking to expand availability of transportation to more students in the spring semester. That expansion would encompass Priority Level 4 – eligible Elementary and K-8 Choice program students. Find the full report here:
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MS55666D8
Good News
Graduation Rate Rises
The Georgia Department of Education has released SY 2020-21 graduation rates and SCCPSS improved its cohort graduation rate once again. Our 2021 cohort graduation rate of 90.1% marks the seventh year in a row that our district has both graduated a higher percentage of students than the year before and surpassed the graduation rate for the state of Georgia.
STEM Academy and Coastal Middle Re-designated Lighthouse Schools
The STEM Academy @ Bartlett and Coastal Middle School have both been re-designated as Lighthouse Schools to Watch by the National Middle School Association for 2021-2024. Lighthouse Schools are considered national model middle school programs, and are chosen on the basis of academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and highly successful organizational structures and processes.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MKT561970
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent's Student of the Month October is Mekhi White, a 7th Grader from Myers Middle School. Congratulations, Mekhi!
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MKW561973
Professional Senate Report
A report from the latest meeting of the Superintendent's Professional Senate was presented by our Instructional Support Person of the Year.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MKZ561976
First Reads
Policy EDCA – Bus Safety Inspection (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy EDCA – Bus Safety Inspection and determined a need for changes to update the language to accurately reflect bus safety inspection practices.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MLF561984
Policy MCA – Shared Services with Private Schools (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy MCA – Shared Services with Private Schools and determined a need for changes to update language regarding the appropriate educational funding sources by reference of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MLM56198A
Policy GBRB and Regulation GBRB-R – Professional Personnel Time Schedules (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBRB – Professional Personnel Time Schedules along with the supporting regulation. Changes are needed to add clarity to the overtime definitions based on the Fair Labor Standards Act and to update the number of paid holidays to accommodate the observance of the June 19 Federal Holiday.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C88MTV5C673A
2022-2023 ACADEMIC CALENDAR DRAFT Presented For Review
At the Regular Meeting, the draft 2022-2023 Academic Calendar was presented to the Board for review and awareness. The calendar is built based on the framework of the existing 2021-2022 academic calendar. The calendar includes:
• Ten (10) staff planning days with priority given to pre-planning days.
• Three (3) staff planning days spread evenly throughout the school year (Aug 3- May 23).
• Commitment to online learning platform with strategically planned “e-Learning" Days.
• Fall break to finish first nine weeks.
• Veterans Day recognized with a Holiday for All.
• Full one-week Thanksgiving break.
• Full 2-week winter break.
• Early spring “long weekend" for students/staff (St Patrick's Day weekend).
• One week Spring Break at the start of April.
• Federal Holidays accounted for using 12 Holiday for All Days to include observation of Juneteenth-June 19, 2023.
Final adoption of the 2022-2023 Academic Calendar is currently planned for the December 8, 2021, Board meeting
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MLT561990
New Oatland Island Visitor Center Name Proposed
In accordance with Policy FDC and Administrative Regulation FDC-R, Naming Facilities, a team has been appointed by the Superintendent to provide a recommendation for the naming of the Oatland Island Visitor Center (main building). The proposed name(s) was read into record during the Regular Board meeting. The name will be voted on at the December Regular Meeting of the Board.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MLW561993
Susie King Taylor Community School Granted Two Year Charter Extension
The Susie King Taylor Community School Charter School (SKTCS) has served the students of Savannah-Chatham County for over four years and is currently in the final school year of their existing Charter. SKTCS has not met the accountability expectations set forth for academics and student performance during the contract period. The Charter School is currently under a Corrective Action Plan that the State Department of Education approved, and they are monitored monthly. SKTCS initiated the Charter Renewal process and met the required renewal deadlines; however, due to significant performance deficiencies, the administration cannot support a five-year charter contract renewal at this time. Throughout the renewal process, the administration collaborated with the charter petitioners and sought guidance from the State Department of Education. While the performance deficiencies are concerning, all parties agree that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have diminished the ability to make a quality recommendation due to lack of reliable performance data over the last two school years (SY 2020 and SY 2021). The extension will allow the charter school to continue to operate under specific terms and conditions outlined in the contract extension.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MLZ561996
Legislative Priorities Adopted
The Board's 2022 Legislative Priorities were discussed during the October 6, 2021, Board meeting and further reviewed during the Board's Legislative Breakfast held on October 27, 2021. The Board adopted the 2022 Legislative Priorities at the November 3rd Regular Meeting for use as a framework to advance the needs of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System in our work to ensure a high quality education is provided for every student.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MM4561999
American Education Week Proclamation
The Board proclaimed the week of November 15-19, 2021, n as the 100th Annual Observance of American Education Week in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and all throughout Chatham County.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MM756199C
Retired Educators Day Proclamation
The Board proclaimed that November 7th, 2021, as declared by the Governor of the State of Georgia, be recognized as Retired Educators Day in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and that every citizen join us throughout the entire month of November to recognize the lasting contributions of retired educators.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MMA56199F
Policy Adopted!
Policy IF and Regulation IF-R – Instructional Resources (Four Year Review – Changes
Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has
reviewed Board Policy along with the supporting regulation and determined a need for minor
changes due to position titles.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MPQ5619ED
Policy GAA – Personnel Goals and Objectives (Four Year Review – Changes
Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has
reviewed Board Policy GAA – Personnel Goals and Objectives and determined a need for
minor changes in language to reflect current practice.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MPW5619F3
Policy GBRL and Regulation GBRL- R – Employee Dress Code (Four Year Review –
Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District
Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBRL – Employee Dress Code along with the
supporting regulation and determined a need for changes in both the policy and regulation
in order to update dress code guidelines.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MPZ5619F6
Policy DFF and Regulation DFF - R – Grants (Four Year Review – Changes
Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy DFF – Grants along with the supporting regulation and determined a need for changes in both the policy and regulation to update the language to reflect improved and current practice.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MQ45619F9
Policy MK – Educational Accreditation Agency Relations (Four Year Review –
Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District
Administration has reviewed Board Policy MK – Educational Accreditation Agency
Relations and minor clean up edits to the language.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86NNR595AFB
Policy MGB – School Boards Associations (Four Year Review – Changes
Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has
reviewed Board Policy MGB – School Boards Associations and determined a need for
language clarification.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MQ75619FC
Policy MDA – Shared Services/RESAs (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended)
Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board
Policy MDA – Shared Services/RESAs and determined a need for minor changes in the
language to reflect proper Board process.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MQA5619FF
Policy EBBC and Regulation EBBC - R(O) – Emergency Drills (Four Year Review –
Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District
Administration has reviewed Board Policy EBBC – Emergency Drills along with the
supporting regulation and determined a need for changes in both the policy and regulation
in order to update the language to reflect SCCPSS's current practices.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86NFD58C7C9
ESPLOST UPDATES
Transfer of Funds to Accelerate Completion of New Hampstead K8
The Board approved the transfer of $1,000,000 ESPLOST III New Hampstead K-8 School funds for the acceleration and completion costs of the project.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MQW561A13
Design Contract for New Windsor Forest High School Approved
The Board approve a contract with Hussey Gay Bell & DeYoung International, Inc. for design services for the Windsor Forest High School project under RFQ C18-05 “On-Call" Architectural and Engineering Services (Annual Contract) in the total amount of $2,641,983.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86NN65941F6
Donation Approved for Play Area at Formey Early Learning Center
The Board accepted a donation from Georgia Ports Authority in the amount of $159,039.13 that will be used to purchase two (2) Sensory Soft Play areas for the Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey School.
http://go.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C86MP95619DE
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Board Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 - 9:30 AM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G. 2 Laura Avenue
Fair Dismissal Hearing
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 - 9:00 AM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G. 2 Laura Avenue
Accountability Committee & Equity Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 - 3:30 PM
Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G. 2 Laura Avenue
