Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPS) Update:
- Board approved contract with EduSolve to implement district leadership development for Year 1 of the 2026 to 2031 Strategic Plan; $195,000 transfer.
- Board approved partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education for districtwide instructional rounds and year long SSO coaching; cost $259,600.
- Policy GARH adopted, updating employee leaves: maternal birth leave extended and sick leave increased per HB 1118 and SB 148.
- Board awarded ESPLOST V program management to Hoar Program Management, LLC, contract not to exceed $18,947,692 over five years.
Charter Authorizer Update and Framework
At the Informal Meeting of the Board, a presentation on updates to Board Policy IBB was given to the Board. The presentation focused on drivers behind the revisions and changes that SCCPSS is making to clarify local expectations and strengthen transparency. The proposed revisions align SCCPSS policy with adopted state requirements. See the full presentation here for a complete explanation of changes:
EduSolve Leadership Development Approved
The Board approved a contract to continue the District’s partnership with EduSolve to implement the district’s leadership development system during Year 1 of the 2026–2031 Strategic Plan. Building on the foundational leadership pathways, readiness tools, and
implementation resources developed during FY26, this engagement shifts the district’s focus from system design to implementation. The Board approved a requested budget transfer in support of this action in the amount of $195,000.
RELAY/GSE-School and District Leader Instructional Rounds Approved
The Board approved a contract to partner with Relay Graduate School of Education to provide instructional leadership development through districtwide instructional rounds and job-embedded coaching for School Support Officers (SSOs). The partnership includes 28 full days of instructional rounds for school and district leaders focused on classroom observations, coaching, data meetings, instructional feedback, and action planning, as well as year-long coaching for SSOs that includes onsite coaching visits and virtual coaching sessions for a total cost of $259,600.
Contract with Eduservice dba CT3 Education Approved for Targeted Professional Learning
The Board approved a contract with Edueservice dba CT3 Education to provide targeted professional learning, instructional coaching, and leadership coaching for selected elementary and middle schools. The agreement combines two previously used services. The Board approved a budget transfer in the amount of $1,022,289 to fund the services.
Student of the Month Recognized
The Superintendent’s Student of the Month for August is Audrey Large, a 5th grader at May Howard Elementary School. Congratulations, Audrey!
Policy First Reads
Policy JBC – School Admissions
(Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended)
District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JBC along with the supporting regulation. The revisions strengthen and clarify admissions procedures by expanding required disclosures and student records, detailing transfer and military-family documentation, and tightening provisional-enrollment timelines and eligibility. The regulation also updates registration to allow district or school level online processing, requires completion of an electronic enrollment form, and clarifies verification and records-request responsibilities.
Policy JBCD – Transfer and Withdrawals
(Four Year Review – Changes Recommended)
Pursuant to Board Policy BDE- Policy Review, District Administration has reviewed Board Policy JBCD along with the supporting regulation. The revisions align transfer and withdrawal procedures with HB 268 and SBOE Rule 160-5-1-.28 by strengthening enrollment documentation, records-release, withdrawal-date, attendance, and agency- referral requirements.
Policy Adopted
Policy GARH – Employee Leaves and Absences
(Mid Period Review – Changes Recommended)
District Administration has reviewed Board Policy GARH and has determined updates are needed in policy to reflect House Bill 1118 for an additional 3 weeks of paid maternal birth leave and Senate Bill 148 that extends accrued sick leave for personal use from 3 days to 5. This policy has been reviewed by the Board Attorney and the Superintendent and was presented for first read on July 8, 2026. Based on Board feedback, this policy received an additional legal review, and additional changes have been provided by the Board Attorney focused on Maternal Birth Leave. New language provides clarity for qualifying events and statutory definitions for eligibility. Greater detail for use requirements as established by law are also provided.
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. Additional updates have been provided to ensure policy language is interpreted appropriately in support of Charter School autonomy and to reinforce that Board management is exercised through its role as an authorizer.
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 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.
Other Board Actions and Updates
Budget Transfer Approved for Catering Kitchen Project at Port Wentworth Administrative Annex
On June 6, 2022, Raymond Engineering was issued a purchase order for design services for the Port Wentworth Administrative Annex under annual contract RFQ C22-04 “On-call” Design Professional Services. The current contract amount is $327,775. Staff intends to renovate the existing school kitchen into a prep/catering kitchen and restroom area. Raymond Engineering has proposed a lump-sum design fee of $86,000 for the project, which includes construction administration services. The Board approved a budget transfer in that amount. The revised contract amount is $413,775.
ESPLOST UPDATES
At the Regular Meeting of the Board, an update of the District’s ongoing ESPLOST projects was presented. Those updates include among others:
SCCPSS Athletic Complex @ Islands High School – the grandstand seating expansion and press box are complete. The Team Room and Bathrooms are under construction.
Georgetown K-8 Renovation – complete and occupied on schedule. The Gym addition is ongoing with an expected Fall completion date.
Hubert MS Renovations – Modular classrooms are in place and occupied. Phase 1 of the interior renovations are in progress.
You can find the complete report here:
Capital Projects ESPLOST V Program Management Services
The Board approved the award of a one-year contract to Hoar Program Management, LLC, for RFP C26-07, Capital Projects: Program Management Services (ESPLOST V), subject to automatic renewal pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-506 for up to four additional years (five years total) for a total cost not to exceed $18,947,692 over a five-year period from execution of the contract.
Personnel Moves
There were some personnel changes of note approved at both the August and September Board meetings…
At the August meeting – BOEPD Assistant Chief George Washington was promoted to Chief of the Board of Education Police Department. His appointment will take effect on October 1st following the retirement of Chief Terry Enoch.
And at the September Board Meeting –
Woodville-Tompkins High School Principal Alfred McGuire was named the new Executive Director of College and Career Readiness. His appointment takes effect on October 13th.
Christine Holmes has been named Acting Principal of Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School effective October 13th.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Labor Day Holiday for All
Monday, September 7, 2026
Fall Board Retreat
September 24-25, 2026
Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens
8:00am – 4:00pm
October Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Whitney Administrative Complex
Informal Meeting at 10:00am
Regular Meeting at 2:00pm
Read more on the official SCCPSS website
