Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPS) Update:
- Traditional nameplate exchange welcomed 2027 Teacher of the Year Sam Sacks and Instructional Support Person of the Year Lauren Evans.
- Board recommended revisions for multiple policies including BCBL, BDF, DC, GAMA, GCRA(1), and IBB.
- Georgia Department of Education approved a $260,000 custodian supplement grant for SCCPSS custodians.
- Board approved renewal of Ignite Reading for $4,433,600, citing strong evidence of student literacy growth in SY25-26.
- Approved CMR award to Balfour Beatty Construction for Windsor Forest Elementary replacement with initial stated cost limitation $36,000,000.
School Opening Report
At the Informal Meeting of the Board, the Superintendent and Cabinet presented the Board with a report on the opening of the 2026-27 SY. Highlights included:
– 3,538 new students enrolled across the district.
– On time arrival for school buses on the first day was 71.3% and that had risen to 76.1% by Midweek.
– Summer work contributed to clean, welcoming facilities on the first-day! HVAC continues to be a priority with sporadic issues experienced on week one.
– Teacher Vacancies remain low – only 20-25 in week one, and the District’s retention rate remains high at 91.14%.
See the complete report here:
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/60ee82cd-3b25-4f37-88e5-2297aa2e3d5e/
Exchanging of the Plates
Our 2027 Teacher of the Year Sam Sacks, and Instructional Support Person of the Year Lauren Evans, were welcomed with the traditional exchanging of nameplates on the dais by outgoing Instructional Support Person of the Year Officer Jabari Hymon.
Policy First Reads
Policy BCBL – Review of Board Procedures (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BCBL. The policy was updated to emphasize continuous Board selfassessment and improvement, provide flexibility in the timing and format of annual assessments and retreats, and reflect the updated name of the Office of Internal Audit.
Policy BDF – Review of Administrative Rules (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BDF. The proposed updates remove outdated terminology and provide language to clarify the Superintendent’s authority for issuing operational directives, instructions, processes, procedures, and protocols.
Policy DC – Annual Operating Budget (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy DC. The proposed updates make minor grammatical corrections in policy. The Administrative Regulation DC-R contains revised language that separates the budget and millage adoption process. Revisions make clear that the budget approval process may occur separately from the tax levy adoption process.
Policy GAMA – Drug-Free Workplace (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GAMA along with the supporting regulation. The proposed updates clarify that violations may result in discipline up to and including termination, revise the safetyand security-sensitive positions subject to random drug testing, and remove testing after extended absences. The changes also direct limited third-party event exceptions (Oatland/Massie) to Board Policy KG.
Policy GCRA(1) – Drug Screening of Bus Drivers (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GCRA(1) along with the supporting regulation. The proposed updates align the policy and regulation with the current U.S. Department of Transportation regulations and testing methods in accordance with 49 CFR Part 40. The revisions also update procedures for positive results or test refusals, return-to-duty requirements, confidentiality of records, and required FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse inquiries.
Policy IBB – Charter Schools (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IBB along with the supporting regulation. The proposed revisions strengthen the District’s charter school framework by emphasizing innovation, educational opportunities, student achievement, operational sustainability, legal compliance, and accountability while clarifying Board priorities and charter school autonomy. The regulation also updates application approval, denial, governance and compliance procedures, and requires charter schools to coordinate with the District in fulfilling its responsibilities as the charter authorizer. Updated language aligns with state board updates and SBOE Rule 106-4-9-.05.
Policy JCDB – School Dress Code (Mid Period Review) • No Policy Changes • Changes Recommended for Regulation only District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JCDB along with the supporting Regulation. There are no changes recommended for the Board Policy. The proposed updates to the Administrative Regulation provide clear language that stipulates spirit wear “tops” are part of the school uniform. Schools shall designate designs and colors of their spirit wear. The updates would also remove the requirement that belts be worn with uniform pants.
Policy KBC – News Media Relations (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy KBC. There are no changes recommended for Board Policy.
Policy KB – Public Information Program (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy KB and has determined changes are needed to provide additional language that details various communication methods for sharing information including the importance of school websites.
Policy Adopted
Policy BCAE – Public Hearings (Four Year Review) • Policy Changes • No Recommended Regulation Changes Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BCAE and provides updated language at the recommendation of the Board attorney. No Administrative regulation changes are recommended.
Policy BDA: Policy Development System (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE-Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BDA and provides updated language at the recommendation of the Board attorney.
Policy IHA- Grading Systems (Mid Period Review) • No Policy Changes • Changes Recommended for Regulation only District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IHA along with the supporting Regulation. There are no changes recommended for the Board Policy. The Regulation IHA-R has been updated with additional updates and recalculating a percentage found in Computation of Grades, Grades 1-2 to reflect the correct information – Classwork Assignments will constitute 60% of the grade. *The previous number reflecting 50% should have been adjusted during the policy revisions presented during the May 6, 2026, meeting of the Board. Student assessments for this category were appropriately reviewed and adjusted to reflect 40% of grade as Classwork Assignments are intended to constitute 60% of the grade.
Other Board Actions and Updates
State Custodian Supplement Grant Approved
In July 2026, the Georgia Department of Education approved a custodian supplement for SCCPSS custodians in the amount of $260,000. The grant award is currently funded at a flat award amount per custodian FTE reported on the October 2025 (2026-1) CPI report.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/b154b1b3-a146-4f40-81e3-a65571443415/
Change Order Budget Transfer Approved for Port Wentworth Facility
On May 7, 2025, the Board approved the award of Bid C25-09 Port Wentworth Auxiliary Administration Annex, Central Wings, and Hallway Renovations to Founders Maintenance and Restoration in the amount of $749,750. Subsequent change orders including renovations for Human Resources, Academic Affairs, and existing gym renovations for Campus Police have increased the contract amount to $2,269,994. Near the end of last year, gravel was laid at the rear of the building to serve as a parking surface. Rain and lack of adequate drainage have deteriorated the gravel surfacing. For repair the civil engineer calls for approximately 50 tons of crusher run material along with channel drains to capture the runoff, and an underground pump system to collect and discharge water from the drainage system. The proposal to add this work as a change order is $82,184 including an allowance for other site related and drainage issues.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/8a12eedb-aa71-4990-b505-a118a3b913d9/
District-wide Vital Signs Monitors Purchase Approved
The Board approved the purchase of Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitors for all SCCPSS school health clinics at a total cost of $142,931 through Sourcewell Contract No. 090925-SHC. The SCCPSS Department of School Nursing has identified the need to replace aging and increasingly unreliable blood pressure and vital signs equipment currently used in school health clinics. The purchase and implementation of new vital sign monitors will mean all school nurses will use the new monitor system for SY26/27, which will standardize vital signs assessments across all school health clinics and improve the accuracy and consistency of student health evaluations.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/b0eb6212-4a0d-4f14-bc91-42db921b9dd3/
Renewal of MOU with Savannah Music Festival Approved for Continued Jazz Academy and Musical Explorers Programming
The Board approves the Memorandum of Understanding with Savannah Music Festival for SMF Jazz Academy and Musical Explorers educational programming for a total cost of $125,000.00.
Approval of this MOU ensures SCCPSS students and staff continue to have access to tuition-free jazz education, K-2 music curriculum, and teacher professional development through the Savannah Music Festival during the 2026-2027 school year.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/b80af2a2-e34e-4028-b362-9e05f2e93fd4/
REACH Charter School MOU Approved
The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and Reach Public School – Georgia, Inc. The MOU memorializes the agreement between parties that identifies how some or all of the Charter School’s proportionate amount of federal funds for which the Charter School is eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) will be satisfied through the provision of in-kind special education services by SCCPSS.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/781bd414-67a2-4b79-8a84-2f49e0bda88e/
IGNITE Reading Contract Renewed
The Board approved renewal of the Ignite Reading program contract for a total cost of $4,433,600. Evidence of program effectiveness from school year 2025-2026 is reflected in students’ mid-year (MOY) to end-of-year (EOY) outcomes. Among the 591 students who participated in Ignite Tutoring and had both mid-year and end-of-year Amira scores, 464 students (78.5%) increased their Amira Reading Mastery (ARM) by at least 0.2, 394 students (66.7%) increased their Amira Reading Mastery (ARM) by at least 0.4, and 281 students (47.5%) increased their Amira Percentile Rank (PR) by 7 or more points. These results support continued investment in Ignite Tutoring as an evidence-based strategy for accelerating literacy growth and improving reading achievement.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/4ac1c296-57db-4adc-80ec-26633f911d18/
AIM Contract Renewal Approved
The Board approved the purchase of AIM Institute for Learning & Research Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary licensed course content and Job-Embedded Teacher Coaching services for a total cost of $161,189.40. As SCCPSS enters Year 2 of the Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary partnership with AIM Institute, job-embedded coaching will help teachers translate their PPR-S training into consistent, high-quality daily instruction. The proposed coaching directly supports the district’s literacy strategy by providing observation, modeling, and feedback that help teachers apply literacy routines, sustain momentum from Pathways to Proficient Reading: Secondary training, and prepare for deeper coaching and long-term implementation efforts.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/28069880-38fc-42c2-9d04-88a8533f7144/
ESPLOST UPDATES
CMR Services Contract Approved for Windsor Forest Elementary Replacement Project
The Board approved the award of RFP C26-12 (ESPLOST) CMR Services for Windsor Forest Elementary School Replacement Project to Balfour Beatty Construction with fees as described and an initial Stated Cost Limitation of $36,000,000.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/b762fdf6-123f-446c-b966-e59484729bad/
Bull Street Renovation Design Professional Contract Approved
The Board approved a contract award under RFP C26-06 208 Bull Street Renovation Design Professional to LS3P Associates LTD, and the Board authorized the beginning of the Programming and Master Plan phase of the project for a lump sum amount of $135,000 and a $22,000 reimbursable allowance.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/76ea11cc-9f37-48fe-8a79-b16213c7263d/
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – 3:30pm-5:00pm
Whitney Administrative Complex
Capital Improvement Committee Meeting
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 – 3:30pm-5:00pm
Whitney Administrative Complex
Audit Committee Meeting
Thursday, August 27, 2026 – 8:00am-9:00am
Whitney Administrative Complex
Board Accountability Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – 3:30pm-5:00pm
Whitney Administrative Complex
Labor Day Holiday for All
Monday, September 7, 2026
Read more on the official SCCPSS website
