Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPS) Update:
- Board approved the new 2031 Strategic Plan to guide the district for the next five years; plan to be actively monitored and refined.
- Preliminary FY 2027 Budget discussed, proposed 5% increase and 17.331 mill rate; budget vote removed pending Chatham County Tax Digest delivery.
- Board approved additional Student Behavioral Health Services Grant funding to expand teletherapy, Tier II/III supports, and evidence-based wellness and violence prevention programming.
- Board adopted Policy JD, Student Discipline updates including Personal Electronic Devices rules and ongoing Student Code of Conduct administrative review.
- Multiple personnel appointments approved, including Lisa Howell as Chief Financial Officer and numerous principals across district schools.
2031 Strategic Plan Approved
Following a presentation and discussion of the district’s new 2031 Strategic Plan at the Informal Meeting, Board Members voted to approve the new strategic plan that will guide the district for the next five years. The Strategic Plan is designed to be actively monitored, refined, and strengthened over time to ensure lasting impact.
Board Presentation on 2031 Strategic Plan:
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/141bd8d5-28b8-446b-b9f3-bdc9fe4fd2e8/
Board Vote:
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/34ca985d-83d4-4e3f-a588-0c872bd50f40/
Preliminary 2027 FY Budget and Millage Rate Presentation
Also at the Informal Meeting, Board Members received an update on the Budget Process for FY 2027. The Presentation of the Preliminary FY 2027 Budget detailed Budget actions and reassessing funding priorities. This budget as currently designed provides a 5% increase over last year’s budget, which is in line with previous year increases. The Preliminary Millage Rate under this budget was discussed at the current 17.331 mills.
Due to delays in the delivery of the Chatham County Tax Digest, the Board deliberated on actions to tentatively adopt the FY27 Budget as proposed and decided to remove the Preliminary Budget and Millage Rate votes from the agenda to allow additional time for consideration of all key factors.
Additional meetings will be held as required by law. Meeting notices will be announced and posted to sccpss.com when available.
Budget Process Presentation:
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent’s Student of the Month for May is Xzavier Jones, a 9th grader at Groves High School. Congratulations, Xzavier!
Professional Senate Report
The 2026 SCCPSS Instructional Support Person of the Year presented a report from the latest meeting of the Superintendent’s Professional Senate.
https://sccpss.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/611f764f-4c00-4fe8-924d-c46a56f1f7a5/
Policy First Reads
Policy ICC – Curriculum Research (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy ICC along with the supporting regulation ICC-R and has determined changes are needed to update departmental titles and to align all references to current Georgia curriculum requirements.
Policy IFCD – Student Volunteers (Four Year Review) • No Policy Changes • Recommended Regulation Changes Deletion of Exhibit Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy IFCD along with the supporting regulation. There are no changes recommended for Board Policy. The Administrative Regulation has been revised with updated department titles, clarification concerning Sex Offender Registry Prohibition, and merging the exhibit examples of Non-Qualifying Offenses into the regulation.
Policy BA – Goals and Objectives (Mid Period Review ) • Policy Changes Recommended Board Policy BA has been adjusted to include a specific reference to language that supports the Board’s commitment and focus on literacy. This policy section aligns to state requirements, maintains literacy as a fundamental component of current and future strategic plans, and provides requirements for an established literacy plan.
Policy BDD – Policy Dissemination (Four Year Review – Changes Recommended) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BDD. Language has been updated for appropriate references to the official record of the Board Policy Manual and that it is located on the District’s website.
Policy BDE – Policy Review (Four Year Review – No Changes) Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BDE along with the supporting regulation. There are no changes recommended.
Policy BHB – Nepotism (Mid Period Review ) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BHB and determined changes are needed to update formatting and to add a section related to procedural requirements for the Employment of Immediate Family Members as per O.C.G.A. 20-2-58.1.
Policy BH – Board of Code Ethics (Mid Period Review – Recommended Changes) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy BH and has updated certain language related to social media per the recommendations of legal counsel.
Charter Petitions Denied
As part of the 2026 petition review cycle, SCCPSS implemented a Charter School Petition Evaluation Rubric aligned to applicable state law and State Board of Education rules to support a transparent, consistent, and standards-aligned review process. Petitions for two new charter schools were evaluated based on evidence presented through the written application, supporting materials, and a capacity interview process to determine whether the proposals demonstrated a clear, coherent, and executable plan for successful implementation. Petitions for both Nexus Academy Charter School and Harmony Oaks Charter School were denied at the June Regular Meeting.
Nexus Academy Charter School
Harmony Oaks Charter School
Site Application Approved for New REACH Charter School
On August 13, 2025, the Board approved REACH Public Schools for a five-year charter contract beginning in the 2026-27 school year. At the June Regular Meeting, the Board approved Georgia Department of Education, New Site or Tear Down Rebuild, Educational Facility Application for the REACH Public Schools site located at 325 W. Montgomery Cross Road, in Savannah.
Policy Adopted
Policy JD – Student Discipline (Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended) District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JD along with the supporting regulation and determined changes are needed. Updates to the section regarding Personal Electronic Devices in Board Policy have been provided and additional changes are found in the administrative regulation that focus on truancy, referrals for chronic disciplinary problems, and language clarification under the long-term suspension processes. As a related matter, a further review of the administrative document contents that make up the Student Code of Conduct is ongoing and reflective of Board Policy JD-Student Discipline. Certain modifications are subject to final policy review and approval.
Other Board Actions and Updates
Student Behavioral Health Services Grant Approved
On January 14, 2026, the board approved $460,000 for the GADOE Student Mental Behavioral Health Services Grant. The Georgia Department of Education has allotted an additional amount of $260,000 for this grant. Based on the flexibility GADOE provides districts in determining the best way to maximize funding, the district seeks to (1) increase the number of middle and high schools with access to on-site teletherapy access, (2) increase the number of students receiving Tier II and III site-based support by licensed mental health professionals, and (3) increase the number of students receiving behavioral support services through evidenced based wellness and violence prevention programming.
Renewal of Imagine Learning: Edgenuity Contract Approved
The Board approved the software subscription for Imagine Learning for a total cost of $ 502,431.00. The platform(6-12) provides unlimited access to all High and Middle School Teachers, Students, Counselors, and Academic Coaches, E-Learning Specialist, MTSS/RTI/EIP/REP Coordinators.
IXL Learning Platform Contract Approved
The Board approved the use of IXL Learning for a total cost of $228,625. The 2026-2027 implementation will establish a consistent, districtwide intervention and progress monitoring framework using IXL to systematically identify student needs, deliver targeted interventions, monitor growth, and adjust instruction across all schools and departments.
Vehicle Purchases for the Office of Technology and Business Systems Approved
The Board approved the purchase of two (2) Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and one (1) Ram Promaster 1500 van for an estimated total cost of $157,003 to support the operational and infrastructure needs of the Division throughout the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.
Amended Financial Assessment & Professional Consulting Contract Approved
The Board approved requested amendments to the contract with Alvarez & Marsal for professional financial assessment consulting services at an additional cost of $530,000 (Phase III) and a total contract not-to-exceed cost of $2,225,000.
ESPLOST UPDATES
Quarterly ESPLOST Update
At the Regular Meeting of the Board, the quarterly update on ESPLOST projects was presented. Those updates included among others:
J.G. Smith Elementary Renovation – Cafeteria storefront glass, prepping for flooring and paint • Interior renovation ongoing on schedule • Site concrete and parking lots.
Georgetown K-8 Renovation – Gym – Brick masonry, roofing ongoing, interior block fill to begin • Interior Renovation Work & Reroofing in Progress on Schedule.
Savannah High School Baseball/Softball Field –
Notice to Proceed issued April 2, 2026 • Mobilization and start construction – Permitting.
Hubert Middle Renovations – School will stay on campus – CMR will schedule and coordinate work to ensure there are no disruptions to school • Modular classrooms permitted and scheduled for installation • First phase renovation work started.
See the full report here:
Amended Design Firm Contract Approved for Alternative Schools Renovations
The Board approved Professional Service Agreement change order #01 to Goodwin Mill Cawood, LLC in the total amount of $241,500 for revised scope, schedule and fee amount for design services. In November 2023 GMC completed schematic design to convert the old Mercer School Building to an E-Learning Center. After evaluating, the design of the project scope was modified to include the Wings and Building Bridges programs along with enhanced site and landscaping. Design continued under the original contract and was recently bid and put under a construction contract. GMC’s scope and schedule have changed such that a change order to the original contract amount is needed.
Personnel Moves
There were a number of personnel changes approved at the June Board Meeting…
- Lisa Howell was named Chief Financial Officer in the Office of Finance
- Rebecca Larson was named Executive Director, School Nutrition Program in the Office of Operations and Facilities
- Caroline Gordon-Jelks was named Head of School for Savannah Early College High School
- Teresa Baker was named Principal at A.B. Williams Elementary
- Arlethia Brown-Hall was named Principal at New Hampstead High School
- Dr. Michele Carthon was named Principal at Southwest Elementary School
- Tara Cheeks was named Principal at Haven Elementary School
- Dr. Tony Foy was named Principal at Southwest Middle School
- Mary Ann Lamberth was named Principal at The Stem Academy at Bartlett
- Alonna McMullen was named Principal at Butler Elementary School
- Tyiesha Oliver was named Principal at Gould Elementary School
- Dr. Christian Pantin was named Principal at Savannah-Chatham E-Learning Academy
- Jacob Roberson was named Principal at Hesse K8 School
- Jennie Thompson was named Principal at Godley Station School
- Dr. Tamika Wright was named Principal at Mercer Middle School
- Kenneth Deal was named Principal at May Howard Elementary
- Dr. William Robinson was named Principal at Myers Middle School
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Juneteenth Holiday
(All District Facilities Closed)
Friday, June 19, 2026
*District Offices will operate on a 8-hour workweek the week of June 15, 2026 in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday*
Read more on the official SCCPSS website
