Savannah-Chatham County School District

This strategic plan for Savannah Chattam County Public Schools outlines the future direction of the district, developed through extensive feedback from staff, students, families, and community members. The plan emphasizes student exploration, teacher collaboration, and family support to shape a meaningful future. Key focus areas include clear communication, strategic alignment, and the well-being of both students and adults, aiming to foster success within the community.

The board retreat focused on strategic direction and resource stewardship, with an emphasis on aligning institutional goals with student outcomes. Key discussion topics included the ongoing development of the district's strategic plan, the importance of consistent implementation of programs across all schools to ensure a high-quality baseline experience for students, and the need for data-driven accountability. The board also reviewed stakeholder engagement results and discussed strategies for addressing performance gaps, fostering transparency, and balancing standard district-wide expectations with the unique characteristics of individual school programs.

The board approved two contracts to support educational outcomes, including high-dosage tutorial services in math and expanded foundational literacy tutoring. An update on summer learning opportunities was presented, featuring a mix of traditional credit recovery and enrichment programs. Additionally, the board approved the naming of a police department annex, received updates on various capital improvement and construction projects throughout the district, and issued multiple proclamations recognizing school nutrition staff, social workers, and school board members. The student of the month was also honored during the meeting.

The board retreat focused on student support services and a comprehensive review of the student code of conduct. Key topics included the implementation of a consistent student discipline policy, a revised absenteeism policy introducing no-credit consequences, and new regulations regarding the use of electronic devices on campus. Additionally, the board discussed strategies to address vaping and increased consequences for violence against staff, emphasizing a balanced approach of accountability and educational support.

The primary discussion focused on the district's status as a Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS), including reviewing the original contract terms established in 2015, performance requirements based on the CCRPI single score, and specific active flexibilities utilized. Key utilized waivers included those related to class size (allowing classes to exceed state requirements by up to four students), direct classroom expenditure reporting (to improve management of non-classroom instructional staff), categorical allotments (allowing flexibility in fund movement), salary schedule requirements (to attract industry personnel for CTAE courses like welding), and certification requirements (allowing hiring of qualified but not yet fully certified personnel). Academic flexibility waivers discussed included promotion/retention decisions for grades 3, 5, and 8 (moving beyond sole reliance on GMASS scores) and enrollment flexibility for students in schools not originally assigned. The discussion also covered the two amendments made to the original contract, one modifying performance indicators and the second extending the contract due to the pandemic's impact on GMASS scores. A significant topic was the uncertainty regarding future performance measures following the elimination of the CCRPI single score, and the administration's ongoing application process for a new six-year contract set to begin in the next school year, noting that the State Department of Education has proposed a vague accountability measure aligned to the Georgia ESSA plan and CCRPI, with the baseline year potentially set as the current year.