Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPS) Update:
- On-Time Preventive Maintenance program launching 19 programs; 4 live, remaining staged through Q2; target 65% on-time work order completion this fiscal year.
- Authorized $200,000 AI Teaching and Learning Collaborative Grant with Savannah State University and Digital Flex to expand micro-credentialing.
- Approved new Charter for the Board of Education Police Department establishing authority, professional standards, oversight, and accountability for school safety.
- Approved Change Order No. 1 adding $3,895,956 to RFP C26-05; updated Gamble Road GMP now $26,527,577 for facility renovations.
Weighted Suspension Rate Update
At the Informal Meeting of the Board, a presentation on the weighted suspension rate which details student discipline as a weighted value based on the number of In-School Suspensions (ISS), Out-of-School Suspensions (OSS), Alternative Placement, or Expulsion referrals, as reported in PowerSchool. The weighted suspension rate is factored in to Priority 1.6 of Pillar 1 – Foster Student and Staff Wellbeing Through Safe, Supportive, and Joyful Learning Environments. The report compared the weighted suspension rate of the August through October time period of this school year with data from the previous two school years. The numbers show the district’s numbers are much lower than the same time period last school year, but slightly above the 2025 SY in most grade bands. The report also detailed steps the district is taking to focus on accountability and reducing those numbers further.
Preventive Maintenance Report
During the Regular Meeting, the Board received a report on the District’s On-Time Preventive Maintenance Program. The report detailed the district’s maintenance system transition and preventive maintenance program setup. The PM framework identifies 19 programs: 4 are live as of September 30th, and the remaining 15 will be created, configured, and staged throughout Q2 (October – December 2026). Operations and Maintenance aims to have 65% of scheduled Preventive Maintenance work orders completed within assigned windows by the end of this fiscal year.
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent’s Student of the Month for October is Malachi Daniels, a Senior at Windsor Forest High School. Congratulations, Malachi!
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.
Retired Educators Day
The Board proclaimed November 4th, 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.
National Education Week
The Board proclaimed the week of November 16-20,2026, as the 104th annual observance of American Education Week. We celebrate public education and take a moment to honor and recognize the individuals working to ensure that every student receives a quality education.
Family Engagement Month
The Board proclaimed the month of November as Family Engagement Month. Family engagement plays a vital role in promoting student achievement, strengthening school communities, and fostering meaningful partnerships among families, educators, and community stakeholders.
AI Teaching and Learning Collaborative Grant with SSU Approved
The Board authorized the Superintendent to enter into an agreement with Savannah State University and Digital Flex for an AI Teaching and Learning Collaborative Grant to include funding in the amount of $200,000 provided through the AI Teaching and Collaborative Grant awarded to Savannah State University. Through a coordinated strategy of micro-credentialing, embedded instructional tools, and real time data use, the initiative addresses student learning and educator capacity.
Policy First Reads
Policy CN – Administrative Records (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy CN along with the supporting regulation. There are no changes recommended for Board Policy. The recommendations for Regulation CN-R – Administrative Records is to remove outdated provisions regarding public inspection of records and clarify compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act. The updates also revise references to the District’s records retention resources.
Policy GAGA – Ethics for Government Service (Mid Period Review ) • Policy Changes Recommended District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAGA and determined changes needed to update language in Board Policy to emphasize adherence to the principles of the Georgia Code of Ethics for Government.
Policy GAGC – Employee Ethics (Mid Period Review –Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAGC and has determined that minor edits to language are needed to streamline the policy.
Policy GBU – Professional Personnel Ethics (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes • Deletion of Exhibit Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GBU. There are no changes recommended for Board Policy. The Exhibit GBU-E(1) is recommended for deletion as it is not needed for this area.
Policy Adopted
Policy AE – School Year (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended)
Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy AE. Proposed updates memorialize the requirements for academic calendar approval and conditions that allow for deviation from the number of state required academic days.
Other Board Actions and Updates
New BOEPD Operational Charter Approved
The Board approved the Charter of the Savannah Chatham County Board of Education Police Department. Adoption of the Police Department Charter represents quality governance practice and the district’s commitment to continuous improvement in school safety. As security needs, technology, professional standards, and modern policing practices continue to evolve, the Charter provides a clear and adaptable framework for defining the Department’s authority, responsibilities, professional standards, oversight, and accountability. The Charter will help ensure that BOEPD continues to operate in accordance with applicable law, Georgia POST requirements, Board policy, and contemporary school-safety and law-enforcement practices while remaining responsive to the changing needs of students, staff, schools, and the community.
Bus Purchases Approved
The Board approved District contract M27327 for the purchase of nine (9) 84-passenger Type D school buses and two (2) 28-passenger Type C school buses equipped with wheelchair lifts from Yancey Bus Sales and Service through Georgia Statewide Contract #99999-001-SPD0000236-0007, for a total cost of $2,409,056, in support of the District’s bus replacement plan.
Employee Benefit Consultant and Broker Services Contract Extension
The Board approved a one-year contract extension of RFP 21-38 Employee Benefit Consultant and Broker Services with NFP Corporate Services, for an estimated cost of $301,269 to be paid directly by benefit providers from policy commissions. This recommendation shall also include Group Term Life Coverage from The Standard at a cost of $138,731.40. The extension was needed to ensure continuity and no disruption of services throughout the school year as the district transitions to a new vendor for several existing voluntary employee benefit products.
PreK Refurbishment Funding Approved
The Board approved the amendment of the Pre-K one-time funding budgeted expenditures and revenue by $885,000 for FY27. A one-time refurbishment funding in the amount of $885,000 has been provided by Bright from the Start for selected SCCPSS Pre-K classrooms. These funds are designated specifically to support the replacement or replenishment of furniture, instructional materials, and technology for Georgia’s Pre-K classrooms.
Genuine Parts Company Contract Renewed
The Board approved the use of Sourcewell Master Agreement 090624-GPC and State of Georgia Statewide Contract 99999-SPD-G20281203, to purchase goods and services from Genuine Parts Company, doing business as NAPA AUTO PARTS for fiscal year 2027, with an estimated total spend of $1,100,000.
Lawn Care Services Contract Approved
The Board approved the award of RFP 27-07 Lawn Care Services District Wide (Annual Contract) to the firms of Coastal Greenery, Rotolo Consultants, Inc. Russell Landscape. The specifications include all District sites divided into eight (8) separate zones and separate pricing for pine straw services. During the term of the contract, the District reserves the right to add additional sites to any zone, at the same terms and conditions, and at a negotiated price. The district may also delete or discontinue services at any site at any time.
ESPLOST UPDATES
Garden City Elementary Renovation Change Order Approved
The Board approved professional service agreement change order no. 2 to SSOE, Inc. in the total amount of $644,000 for providing additional design services for modular classrooms and an extended schedule for the Garden City ES Renovation project. https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/33096/?splitscreen=true&lastModified=639292279717230000&attachmenturl=%2Fdocument%2F0516bf84-fe7a-4a28-a1ca-ee74d3ef0161
Central Office Renovation Change Order Approved
The Board approved Professional Service Agreement change order no. 1 to LS3P Associates in the total amount of $67,789 for providing laser scanning services for the 208 Bull Street Renovation project. In order to provide accurate as-built documents for master planning and design, a laser scan to perform point cloud capture of all interior spaces will be done. These scans will provide accurate 3D laser scan data and full-color panorama imagery for use in creating the construction design documents.
Port Wentworth Site Improvements Approved for Bus Parking While Gamble Road Facility is Under Renovation
The Board approved a budget transfer in the amount of $738,294 from ESPLOST IV Unallocated to the ESPLOST IV Maintenance and Transportation Facility budget for Port Wentworth site improvements to support temporary bus parking during work at the Gamble Road facility. https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/33096/?splitscreen=true&lastModified=639292279717230000&attachmenturl=%2Fdocument%2F5515e1d5-f84b-4ca5-98ca-fb17d985c557#docaccess-2606cd217730a3db84b54f15bd9fb5a4
Gamble Road Facility Renovation Change Order Approved
The Board approved a guaranteed maximum price Change Order No. 1 of $3,895,956 for RFP C26-05 CMR Services for Gamble Road Projects to Reeves Young, LLC. Construction drawings are now complete for all project phases and updated pricing has been received from the CMR. The updated GMP including all general conditions, construction costs, contingency, and fees is $26,527,577.
Personnel Moves
There were some personnel changes of note approved at the November Board meeting…
Michael Smith was named Director of Purchasing in the Finance Department.
Myia Wilkerson was named the Director of Technology Services in the Office of Technology and Business Systems.
And Lavon Bush-Butler was named Administrative Captain in the Board of Education Police Department.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Veteran’s Day
Holiday for All
Wednesday, November 11th
Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 18th – 10:00am
Whitney Administrative Complex
Georgetown K-8 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – 5:30pm
1516 King George Blvd, Savannah
Progress Reports Issued for Students
Friday, November 20, 2026
Thanksgiving Holiday Break (School Staff and Students)
Monday, November 23, 2026- Friday, November 27, 2026
Thanksgiving Holiday Break (All District Facilities will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday)
Tuesday, November 24, 2026- Friday, November 27, 2026
Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, December 9, 2026 – 9am
Whitney Administrative Complex 9:00am-10:00am
December Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Informal Meeting at 10:30am
Read more on the official SCCPSS website
