001Good afternoon. >> Oh, I like that. Um, welcome to the Wednesday, December 17, 2025 uh regular meeting of the board of public education. Uh before we start today, we have a little bit of levity uh in uh con considering the holiday season. Uh the board has a saratoral statement to make. Everyone show your bling. >> Go get it. >> Okay. Or stand and show your outfit. Let's go. >> Here we go. Here we go. Snoopy tie. >> Look at children. >> Come on. >> Snoopy tie. Okay. >> This is a festive vest >> with a curly ribbon crocheted by my mother-in-law. >> There you go. >> And it has a matching >> chipo. [applause] Mr. Cart, >> come on. >> I'm wearing Christmas boxers. It would be inappropriate [laughter] >> in Europe right now with
002the scientist to me. >> A [applause] doctor [cheering] wants clear. [laughter] >> Yes. And oh, and by the way, the temptations coming from our capital projects, please stand. [applause] >> Okay, Miss Campbell. >> Santa. Okay. and the earrings. Oh, and the earrings. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> there we go. >> The Christmas plaid and the Christmas swag. [applause] >> I got my Christmas jingles that were my informal. >> There you go. >> Thank you guys. So, uh, now I would ask you all, uh, stand for the national anthem and, uh, the pledge of allegiance. Good afternoon. Today we are so delighted to have Selena Wilkins. She is a junior at Beach High School. I'm going to say [clears throat] this very slowly so I enunciate all the plans that she has uh for her career and
003you'll see why in a moment. But um Selena is a junior at Beach High School. Um but she will be graduating early in May and her plans are to attend Ogici Tech in Statesboro to become an EKG tech and then she wants to go on to study and become a cardiovascular stenographer. So she has great plans indeed, but she is also a very vital member of the Beach High School course which is directed by Mr. Emmanuel Boualaka. So, we are thrilled to have her. Um, and I would ask that you would please stay standing after the national anthem for the pledge of allegiance. [singing] >> [singing] >> What so proud we held at the twilight [singing] last [singing] we We're so [singing] gallently redave [singing] say that are spangled [singing] away. Oh, the land [singing]
004of the free and the home of the brave. [applause and cheering] >> [applause] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [applause] Let's hear it again for our soloist today. [applause and cheering] Wow. >> All right. I'll um I'll accept a motion to approve the agenda. >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Announcements. Nope. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so so excited after that. Solo. Um it's been moved by uh Dr. Hass. Oh, by Paul. >> Seconded. Yeah, Vice President Smith. Uh, and Miss Campbell seconded. Okay, we're without some um our board docs are down, so we're having to do things old old school today. All right. Thank you. All right.
005So, it's been moved and sec seconded. All of them in favor. >> All right. All right. Now we have announcements. Okay. Uh students, I know you're going to be happy about this and and staff as well. Uh our winter break, [laughter] December 22nd through January 2nd. Uh January 5th, staff is here for a staff planning day. No school for students. January 6, students return to school. January 7th uh is the economic uh uh lunchon at the convention center. January 10th is our student success expo and steam festival and next year it will be held at the Davis Edwards Harris Educational Complex. Uh January 14th is our finance committee. Uh we'd like to uh thank the Godly Station School Council for their letter issued in October requesting a review of our discipline policy. The board has
006received this letter has responded to C to council indicating that a review policy would take place in second semester. Uh we will alert school councils of any changes to policy that may come because of this work. And finally, January 14th is our uh January schoolboard meeting. Uh remembrances, we have one today. Uh uh Janet Burns uh from Largo Tibet Elementary. Date of passing 11:26 25. If we stand for a moment of silence. Dr. Watts. >> Thank you. very excited to be able to acknowledge and celebrate our November student of the month. The superintendent student of the month for the month of November is a senior at the School of Liberal Studies at Savannah High School. This student has demonstrated remarkable academic growth and perseverance since arriving at Savannah High School, increasing her overall GPA while
007taking rigorous course loads in classes, including multiple honors and advanced placement classes. Her progress in mathematics and science reflects both effort and resilience. While her advancement in English from standard to now AP advanced placement level C coursework, she shows deep commitment to literacy and learning. Whether analyzing literature or mastering the technical skills of her nail technology pathway, this scholar embraces challenges as opportunities to gain experience. Her steady improvement across disciplines highlights her determination, her focus, and evolving confidence as a scholar. Her nominator said she quote embodies the power of literacy to transform lives. With an 86.75 GPA and a strong record of achievement and honors and AP courses, she has proven herself to be a dedicated and resilient scholar. Beyond academics, she uses her love of language, art, and poetry to build bridges between people
008and ideas. As an active member of the Deep Center, she mentors young writers, and she also collaborates with peers from across the district to amplify student voice. Her selection as a featured student speaker at the SECCPSS lit talks shows her ability to use words to inspire and heal, reflecting courage and authenticity. Our student is an active and engaged contributor to her school and the Savannah community. She volunteers at the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club tutoring elementary students and supports district events like our annual books, blankets, and fun family fun event helping to promote family literacy and community connections. Her service reflects a genuine commitment to learning, leadership, and the belief that literacy can strengthen every community that she touches. When asked what drives her to succeed, our scholar turned to her own spirit, her
009internal spirit of resilience to answer. When all seems hopeless and you're at every wit's end, you can always pick up a pencil and try again. >> This is beautiful. >> Please join me in congratulating Kiana Mitchell, the superintendent student of the month for November. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Congratulations. Fantastic. >> [applause] [applause] >> Kiona will be taking home several gifts from our sponsors including members first credit union advertising specialties Georgia Southern University Gfrreen Savannah Technical College and the Savannah Schools Federal Credit Union. >> [clears throat] >> In addition, Kiona and her ELA class will receive copies of her favorite book, The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake, donated by our sponsor, Eshaver Book Seller. Book Seller. Again, please join me in congratulating Kiona, her
010[clears throat] family, who I would love to have stand, >> as well as her school family. [applause] Thank you so much. Keep up the really great work, Kiana. I will continue today by highlighting several other opportunities, events, and people within our district within our district that gives us calls for applause. I'll start off with a big kudos to the Islands High School FFA chapter on its annual November community service project. This effort this year was a recordbreaking success, collecting over 4,500 items to support individuals experiencing homelessness through Old Savannah City Mission. Fantastic job, scholars. Also extending congratulations to Soul C. Johnson High School visual arts teacher and department chair Sarah Pascal for being selected as an art effect ambassador for the 202526 term. This prestigious visual arts fellowship is for educators working directly with students
011in grades 6 through 11. This year's ambassadors will participate in a year-long series of online professional development sessions, learning from other highlevel practitioners in a colleial peer learning community. Well done, Miss Pascal. Hats off to the SECPSS student nutrition program for their designation as a Georgia farmtoschool awardee for the school year 2425. the Georgia Department of Education, School Nutrition Division with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Agriculture, University of Georgia Extension, and the Georgia Department of Public Health annually recognizes outstanding farmtoschool programs. We certainly appreciate the work of our school nutrition specialists who introduce our students to new flavors, colors, and taste in an exciting and special fun way. Congratulations. Also extending a round of applause to Hannah Richmond from the Savannah Arts Academy for her first place finish in the Junior American Traditions Competition. Hats
012off to Megan Borgess, Olivia Wilder, and Ely Stuchel, all students at Savannah Arts Academy for placing in uh the competition as well. These students work very hard on their preparation and delivered complete, polished, and poised final performances. Four School of Liberal Arts student studies at Savannah High School students will be advancing to the 2025 AGC Georgia Skills Challenge. This is a statewide workforce development initiative organized by the Associated General Contractors of Georgia. Hendrika Williams is a state qualifier finishing in third place in the Southeast region individual welding competition. The team of Isaac Mendes, Zion Worerin, and Marcus Pikney will advance their welding fabrication team to state after finishing in first place in the Southeast region. I hope our operations team is taking note of those names. future employees in our district. Please join me in
013congratulating Miss Penny Magioni, SECCPSS social worker. Miss Magioni has been named the first district school social worker of the year. School social workers are recognized annually as the school social worker of the year in their districts by the school social workers association of Georgia. Miss Magioni will now go on to compete at the state level for the opportunity to be recognized as the 2026 state school social worker of the year. We wish her the best of luck. Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers recently named their 2026 Don Cargill STEM Scholars and SECPSS is one of only three districts statewide with two winners. Hubert Middle School teacher Dr. Serene Lee and New Hamstead K8 school teacher Sam Saxs have been recognized for their outstanding efforts to engage and improve student learning in STEM disciplines. Each of
014these dedicated teachers will receive a $500 grant in January to be used to purchase STEM education materials for their classrooms. Savannah Arts Academy was crowned class 2A state champions after competing in the GHSA one act play competition on Saturday, November 15th, 2025. The Georgia High School Association Class DoubleA oneact play competition is a regional and state level event where high schools perform a fully staged play within a 55minute time limit. In addition, several Savannah Arts Academy students received honors at the state level. Tyler Shaw was named best actor and Asia Clark and Edward Austin Bradford were also named to an allstar cast. Congratulations to our finance team on receiving the prestigious 25 through 26 meritorious budget award from the Association of School Business Officials International. The award recognizes districts for excellence in budget presentations and
015those who present an accessible and accurate budget that builds trust and clearly communicates with stakeholders. We appreciate your dedication and commitment to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards. And finally, congratulations to the Jenkins High School girls flag football team who advanced to play in the division two [applause] >> [applause] >> Georgia High School Association state championship game at the Merc MercedesBenz Stadium in Atlanta. The team made it to the big game after winning in semifinals with strong performances including two wins by a score of 34 to0 and 27-7. The championship game was played on Monday, December 15th against Greenbryer High School. Our student athletes showed amazing skill, team leadership, and most important, great sportsmanship. We are so proud of the Jenkins High School girls flag football team and commend you, each and every one of
016you, and your coaches on a great season. Today, the team and coaches are here as we celebrate this achievement. And we ask that they come forward now to shake hands with the board. Congratulations. [applause] [applause] Congratulations. Oh my gosh. >> Congrats. Y'all look sharp. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. [laughter] Oh my god. >> Congratulations. >> Great job. Congratulations. >> Oh yeah. Jenkins, [laughter] >> I'll jump into >> [applause] >> Yes. >> When we were making announcements, I think we forgot our fantastic student expo on January 10th. >> I I announced it. Did Did you mention Oh, I don't see it here on my I'm looking at my >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And now we will hear from our professional senate. >> Absolutely. Thank you, um, Mr. Moss. I apologize for my tardiness. Um, in
017the great words of Mr. Paul Smith, he may not be there when you want him, but he'll always be there on time. [laughter] with this report. >> The superintendent's professional senate met on November 22nd, 2025 from 4:15 to 5 5:15 p.m. at Windsor Forest High School. Deputy Superintendent Stacy Tis presented the district's 5-year strategic plan. Teachers, teachers of the year, and instructional support persons of the year met in small groups to share ideas and visions to support students and the community that we serve. The superintendent's professional senate looks forward to meeting with and working with Miss Taylor in the future, not only to give further feedback, but to also listen to her well anticipated rap song that goes along with this initiative. [laughter] That was your superintendent professional report. >> Thank you very much. >>
018Oh god, >> Miss Teder. >> All right. Thank you all so much. Continuing on your agenda again uh for the viewing audience, we are having a little technical difficulty. So the agenda board docs, we'll be updating that appropriately uh based on the actions of the board today. So you don't see it displayed in front of you. Of course, uh we'll be tracking very closely the votes of the board. I know all hands will be raised very high uh for those affirmative votes so we can count them appropriately. We do have a few items under board matters for the board's review. a few policies that are first readers. First one is item 6.01 of board of education matters. This is a 4-year review board policy BHB nepotism and there are no policy changes recommended for this
019policy review subject to the board's final review here and feedback. If there are none, we will consider this one done and reviewed under our four-year process. Thank any continue. >> Thank you sir. Moving along in your agenda item 6.02. This is board policy BBI. This is board staff relations. Also under the review of this policy under the four-year review process. We have no changes to language. So nothing of substance has been changed. Just a few minor formatting and grammatical components but no changes to language. Therefore, uh reviewing this policy subject to the final feedback of the board today, we will consider this one also completed under review under the 4-year review process. >> Moving on, >> continue. >> Moving on on your agenda item 6.03, board policy BCBH. This is board meeting minutes. This is
020a first reader for the board of education. Again, this is part of the four-year review process. We did find a few places in this policy uh to provide some clarifications. One area you'll specifically see where revisions were provided to ensure the uh role of board members present at meetings. You'll find that is a requirement that actually comes through the Georgia open meetings law statute area. Uh we have added that in and also under the recommendation of the board attorney, we did add a clarification line about minutes as they are applicable to committees. First reader, >> any comment? >> Thank you. Move on. >> Board policy 6.04. This is board policy Ga infectious diseases. Uh you'll see here minor changes here. Just again this um review was done. Staff found no necessary need for changes. board
021attorney did recommend that in one area we also add the word and students because clearly if we are dealing with a concern on the school level that is impacting staff if the same rule would apply for students. So that those words [clears throat] have been changed uh minor change on this particular policy section. Uh this will come back though for the board's final adoption in a second review in January. So this is first read under board policy GA. >> Any comments? >> Thank you. >> Moving along. Board policy GBA. This is item 6.05, professional personnel compensation guides and contracts. You will see that there was a number of revisions in this particular policy area and regulations. So this is a first reader. We'll come back for a second. The driver on this was uh first
022of all there were some uh references to departments that needed to be cleaned up. So proper titling was changed, a few just minor grammatical fixes. But you'll also see that the main change in here was really based on the word additives. And this is a new component of the compensation plan which came about after we did an extensive review uh with handover. The board will be familiar with our discussions and our changes in compensation and the recommendations we took after a extensive compensation study of the district. Uh so this now is some of the policy language that comes as a final cleanup to be in alignment with our current practices. This is a first read. Sorry, correction. That was Evergreen, not Hanover that did the compensation study. Thank you. Oh. Um, Miss Kowalsski and, uh,
023Dr. Hoskins Brown. >> Thank you. Um, under the salary schedules, uh, one of the words that was added in that third paragraph, um, was major changes to salary schedules, do we have a threshold as to what constitutes major? >> Definitely. Yeah. So, we'll we'll go back and define that. Thanks for pointing that out. Um, obviously, I think the the nature of the language is really to try to draw a focus area to those um uh broad uh impactful changes. If we have to stipulate a particular threshold in there, even from a dollar standpoint, we can look at that. But, um, thank you. Ambiguous in the way written and we will we will look further into that. Maybe it's a percentage or something like that because I know a dollar could be but anyways and then
024um the other question I had so in the language for the additives it does say that the um the eligibility amount administrative excuse me administration would be in the regulations. Do we have similar and but I don't see similar language um unless I overlooked it under supplemental pay. Do we have a schedule that's affiliated with supplemental pay in the same way that we are proposing for the um salary additives? >> No, the salary additives were coming from Evergreen. Um nothing was really done on the supplemental pay. The supplemental pay hasn't really changed. Those are determined typically by the um you know in consultation with HR. It just depends on the type of role that happens on the supplemental side. So it's not those are additional duties as opposed to the additive. Those are actually permanent
025positions that that relates to. >> So for example, if you are a coach, is that covered under supplemental pay? >> Yes, that would be under supplemental. >> Is there an established salary for a coaching position? >> Or if you're Yes. you have a soccer coach, um it's a certain amount. If you're the head coach of a soccer, a certain amount. If you're head coach football, certain amount. If you're an assistant, there's a certain amount. All that's publicized. Um so everybody knows what that is and schools really can't deviate from that. So if you have an assistant um b baseball coach at Jenkins, they're going to be same same paid the same as assistant baseball coach at a different school. >> So then we do have a schedule. Yes, we do have a schedule >> for
026that for those. Yeah, for coaches for for athletic coaches. Yes, we have a schedule >> because we've talked about it with clubs. We So we've talked about it with a number of different >> We have academics. So those are academic content. Um um we have those um as well. So that is something that's also a schedule. That's something that we just um I think it's probably about two years we've been doing that. >> Okay. What what I guess I'm using those as examples, but what I'm trying to get to is we've had conversations about there may not be equity between schools in which positions receive compensation, which ones don't. And so I don't know if formalizing that perhaps through regulation could be helpful. I just think it's something that we should consider. >> Yes, we
027can we can actually work to add that. >> Don't we have a document? We have the document, but we're not. >> We can also send out. >> We can send it out, but I guess >> we have a schedule. >> We do have a schedule. We do, >> but [laughter] >> I guess but it would depend on what position you're talking. I I can't say that everything that would be helpful. >> We [laughter] have it for the academic and we can send out and let you know what that is. If you're saying we if you're suggesting we put it in here, we certainly could list that because we'll keep it we can keep the title the same and list it and list the athletics to say that those two, you know, are standard um throughout
028the district. But there's just other opportunities or other positions that may not be. We can't do everything, but those do exist. >> Okay. If you could send what we have, that would be >> we'll do that. >> Mr. Brown, >> thank you. Um I I have questions about just two changes. One is um is there a legal definition or another reason that was necessary that we eliminated the term interim and everything became acting? >> Not a legal um just an operational. I think um when Dr. Watts came. She had a um concern about why we had staff listed as interim in their title. You may recall we would have titles of people listing interim. We don't have interim on people's titles anymore. It's more in the background. So in other words, you're interum for a
029year, but you don't really have that title. It's not on your email. It's not anywhere. Acting was always in the policy. As you can see, acting is just more formalized that we're trying to make sure people understand the difference between what was entering, what is acting, where acting is kind of a role that maybe we don't know if the person is going to stay. Maybe it's just something that, you know, came up and we put the person in the position and they'll have an opportunity to apply, but it's not something that they necessarily went through an interview process for. So acting is more of a emergency type situation that acting will occur versus interims are pretty much we know they applied or at least or the superintendent has um recommended them for that for that
030particular role. >> Okay, that's a helpful explanation but I didn't understand that that was a leadership's understanding of interim because interim to me means a duration but does not at all imply any permanence. >> Um is interim is also an appointment. So >> interim in our context doesn't so if a principal's you have principles on the last agenda or an agenda last um in June they're in that role as interim it doesn't mean that they're they will ultimately stay in there but most of the time they will as opposed to an acting we didn't know this person left they just retired over the break we're putting them in the position they may stay they may not acting is kind of what happens in those short term Yeah, I I I defer to leadership on that,
031but interim doesn't to me infer anything different than acting. It seems like there is an an idea or a culture that if you're interim that you're going to get that job, and that's not something that I assumed. It sounds like that's the reason it was being eliminated, but that was not my my perception of that role. But >> I'm I'm fine with it in this policy. I just wanted to know. It was clear that it had been stripped out. I wanted to know what the reasoning was. Um and then on the retroactive pay was removed. The additional compensation, this is the third paragraph on the um back page. Any additional compensation covers only the time of temporary assignment will terminate at the time the employee is reassigned in the previous position. Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry.
032Second line. The effective date for said additional compensation would be retroactive to the first day of the employee was assigned to temporary duty. So, we're not going back and giving them pay for that task on the day that we asked them to be acting. >> Yeah, we will. >> But that's deleted. That's why I'm asking >> on my version is it's it has it struck through and I don't see another place where it says retroactive. >> It's under the first paragraph, I think. Well, it but it's not as clear that first Okay. So, my colleague is saying that >> that she interpreted it to be lumped under that eligibility and compensation details will be governed by procedures established by the Office of Talent and Human Resources. But if I was a really talented person that
033you were recruiting to take on an additional temporary not guaranteed role, I would want to know the policy says that I'm going to get paid for the very day that I started doing it. >> Fair enough. We can we can work on that >> practice. That's the current practice. So it doesn't come through. So we can make that change. >> We can make that change. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Anyone else? Okay. [clears throat] Move on. >> Thank you, sir. Moving on in your agenda, we do have a action item for the board. Item 6.06 is your 2026 calendar of board of education meetings. You'll see that in this particular calendar that we have a host of other meetings that have been included uh during this option for the board to adopt their
034meetings. However, your regular board of meetings typically follows its regular cadence. I will call out, however, that February is a little bit unique. You'll see the date recommended for February 18th. That is because February the 4th is Savannah Chadam Day. February the 11th there is a conflict where the uh board president and superintendent are traveling. Uh so we do have a flag the February 18th which is late in the month and that of course impacts us a little bit for the March meeting in order to do a turnaround and ensure that agenda items are provided to the board. This agenda for the recommendate recommended meetings also follows a typical cadence of having two evening meetings. And then of course on the items that we have included in this action, uh we have included for the
035board recommended dates for a fall retreat, a spring retreat, a whole board governance training, and we also are asking that the board hold their calendars for a particular week of the year where we may, if needed, schedule fair dismissal hearings. Thus be it resolved that the board of education does now approve the 2026 calendar of board meetings. >> It's been moved by Dr. Hos Brown, seconded by Reverend Smith. >> Yeah. And discussion. Go ahead, Dr. H. >> Can I just say how awesome it is that that week for hearings has been put aside? I really appreciate thinking in that way because I know we've struggled with that. So, thank you for doing that. and out of discussion. Yes, Miss Kowski. >> Sorry, this is just a very minor. I see an asterk before the board
036trainings. Is that only to separate and distinguish them from the meetings? >> Yes, that is an important uh component. We also want to draw the eye that the fact that the time for those are to be determined. We still will have to settle the times on those and announce them appropriately per open meeting acts requirements. the March meeting. I do want to call out as we're talking about those for the 26th and 27th dates for the board's spring retreat. Uh do recommend that on the timing of that one that the board would consider uh when those times are finalized that the first day looks at a half-day component because it did happen to coincide on the 26th that is an audit committee meeting in the morning. So you would have the audit committee a half
037day board retreat and then full day board retreat retreat on the 27th. >> Okay. This is just a very minor thing. Typically when I see an asterk I'm looking for a footnote. So [laughter] I'm always like trying to find the footnote but that's just me. I guess >> we will footnote it uh upon approval so that we can share it with the public and ensure that that does not create confusion. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? There being none, uh, all in favor. Thank you. None opposed. Thank you. >> Continue. >> Thank you, sir. We have another action item. This is item 6.07. And you have a policy for second read adoption. Was a request to pull this one from consent, include it in board of education matters in our planning. uh in part because
038this is a uh obviously a policy that is has drawn some a lot of attention and it is broad scoping impacts uh all of our school communities from uh elementary to middle and and into high school as well. And this is your recommendation on the use of electronic devices by students policy recommendation JCDAF statutoily required to have the approval of this policy by January 1st 2026. In doing so, we do want to make sure that the viewing audience understands the approval of this policy uh is that time frame as set by law, but the actual implementation of the policy and the oper operationalizing it will not occur until next school year. This policy has been previously reviewed by the board at the previous meeting. And based on feedback, some additional updates have been provided to
039include defined times when students in grades 9 through 12 may use personal electronic devices. Additional updates, including the definition of belltoell for K8 grades, and personal devices have been included. Thus be it resolved that the board does now approve policy JCDAF use of electronic devices by students. You know this is not the second [clears throat] this is this is not first and second reader. >> This is an action item for the board of education a second reader that the board would vote to approve. Yeah. >> All right. I I'll accept a motion. It's been moved by Mr. Kellowski. seconded by Miss Hall. And I know there's discussion. >> Yes. >> Just two clarification um questions. In the first paragraph, we're talking about ele elementary and middle school students. It says students in grades K through
0408. It doesn't include preK. >> We can make that update. But yes, it will include preK students who may uh bring their cell phones to school. [laughter] Hopefully, we don't have many pre-K, but just, you know. >> Goodness. >> Um, and then I think that the uh there was a sentence that was added about midway through about belltoell means, and I think that sentence needs some cleaning up. Um, it's it's it just needs to be re uh rephrased. It's reading beginning with the first bell signaling the conclusion of the school day. >> Yeah, that was taken directly out of the statute. So, that was a copy paste. And I did want to clarify too K8 references as far as a definition that is the the law. >> So the extension of preK is is beyond
041what the law requires. But I I don't think that there's any um push back on that. It makes sense obviously from that standpoint. But with the language is lifted from the statute and that belltobell definition is also lifted from the statute as written. >> It reads belltobell means the period beginning with the first bell signaling the conclusion of the school day. That sentence makes no sense. >> Can we please check that? >> Yeah, we'll check that. >> We'll check that. >> All right. >> It sounds like a word may have fallen out. >> But that that component was the definition of belltoell is lifted from the way it's defined in the statute. We will go back and make sure that word for word it is lifted accurately and appropriately. Yeah. Any other discussion? Miss Miss
042Campbell, >> one last plug. So, I support this. Um, I I think the goal of this is awesome instructional focus in the classroom, but I do not see that the research shows a natural cut off at 8th grade for instructional focus. So, I do hope eventually we get 9th to 10th grade, I mean, excuse me, 9th to 12th grade also involved. um feels a little bit like a partial policy um as it stands and I know this was mandated by the state but I do hope at some point we will consider 9th to 12th as well. >> Any other discussion? >> Mr. Mrowski, >> I'll make one more plug that I I know there was some push back when I um suggested this at the last meeting, but we currently allow our school administrators flexibility
043at the high school level as to what their cell phone policy is. I'll just make another um loft at that we maintain that part of our current policy that allows that flexibility should a high school principal determine that at their school it's bell to bell but I know that that was not a that was not widely supported but I'll just throw it out there for one more round of discussion >> and I'll just add that I appreciate that but our principles really do want clarity >> okay >> and they feel like the discretion um puts them on uneven grounds in terms of support. >> Okay, I appreciate that feedback. Thank you. >> Uh Dr. Hkins Brown, >> I just wanted to respond. I I understand the sentiment and I understand um some of the value
044that has been attributed to that. But I think it was it the student senate when they came said that they wanted it either all everyone everyone having the same policy or not having that policy. So >> I can tell you principles are clear that they want it to be consistent. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion there being none? All in favor? All oppose. Right. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Moving on on your agenda item 6.08. We do have a recommendation for a sale of property for the board's consideration today. This is a resolution for the sale of Thunderbolt property. The resolution approves the purchase and sale agreement between Tybee Island Charter School Incorporated doing business as Tybee Island Maritime Academy and the Board of Public Education for the city of Savannah and
045the County of Chadam. The board and Teima have been in discussions concerning the purchase of this property, which was formerly used as the Thunderbolt Elementary School under tax ID number 300059022. The sale does not amend or alter the existing charter agreement with tea. Parties agree for the sale of this property is for the use of the Tybee Maritime Charter Schools currently authorized program. Stand by. Okay. Um, so I just lost my computer. Uh so we do have uh as uh recommended for the use of the charter as currently authorized by the board of public education. Any changes going forward obviously would need to follow the board's established process for uh revisions to an established charter. This is a sale of property only and the recommendation has been provided with a attachment which enumerates the terms
046of the agreement and that term of agreement is under the SEC PSS Tim 12825. Superintendent recommends this the board that the agreement be fully executed and this agreement has been reviewed by the board attorney. The spirit revol resolved that the board does now approve the purchase and sale agreement in form presented for the Thunderbolt Elementary property and authorizes the officers of the board to execute the PSA and take any further actions they deem necessary or desirable to affect the transaction, including the execution of deeds or certificates and any amendments to the PSA in form or substance such officers deem appropriate, including any extensions there too. >> I will I'll accept a motion. It's been moved by Mr. Katchmar, seconded by Miss Hall. Uh discussion. Mr. Katchmar. I'm going to move to amend the resolution to
047authorize the superintendent and board counsel to discuss with the buyer council the following amendment to the contract that explicitly notes that the sale does not amend or alter the existing charter agreement with tea uh and that it's for the charter's currently authorized program and that any future Future changes to the current charter agreement would have to go through the normal board approval process and approval process required by Georgia law maybe. >> Uh do I have a second for that to the amendment? Okay, it's been seconded. Uh any discussion on the amendment? None. So, we're now voting on the amendment. >> Okay. Uh, all in favor? That's easy. Okay. >> Now, we're going to vote on the motion >> as amended. All in favor? All right. Okay. [clears throat] We got another. >> Thank you, sir.
048Moving along on your agenda. As we understand, a second read policy for school councils has been recommended to be pulled from consent and added to board of education matters. This is a second read, so the board will take action on the approval of this policy. We do remind the board that this particular policy was reviewed previously and the November meeting under the first read with recommended changes. Policy has been reviewed by the board attorney and the superintendent was presented for first read. Now is coming back for the board's second read and subsequent adoption. The revisions have refined the role of school councils and added some additional clarifying components to the uh roles of school councils and requirements of their action as a body which is required by law. One of the key components that was
049also revised in this process is the bo the school council's role in reference to the appointment of a school principal when a vacancy arises. That language was proposed at the previous meeting and there were no changes to the language as proposed. So it comes back to the board now for a second read adoption. Thus be it resolved that the board does now approve board policy BBFA school councils. >> Accept a motion moved and seconded. Okay. Um, before we move on, we do have someone that has signed up to speak to this. Uh, is Miss Jackie Johnson here? She is not. If we have anyone else that want to speak to this subject. Okay. All right. All right. Discussion among us. >> Yes, Miss Kowski. Having served as member of school council for many years um
050as I know others of us have as well. Um school councils are so valuable um to the schools and to the administration. I think to all of the stakeholders um and I think with this change in policy perhaps we could have done a little bit more to communicate proactively about the intent behind this change of policy. This is something that um the superintendent has started um kind of shifting the way that we uh are looking at our principal um vacancies to really be a more holistic and inclusive approach. And so I would like to ask um either Dr. Watts or Dr. Burns, if you would provide a little bit of an overview about the intent of and and how you envision still um uh including school council and the community in um principal search process.
051>> And if Dr. Barnes is here, I'll actually defer to him because he directly leads this process. And then if I have anything to add, I'll do that after the fact. >> Okay. So the school councils um serve as a vital uh part in the decision making um in terms of their input when we hire principles. Um equally um staff and parents that are not represented on the school council also u have a great input and the leader that will be leading their schools. Uh so the new process that we're rolling out, it allows staff to give input in which we bring the staff together and we have a structured protocol that we take them through the actual uh leadership competencies that principles would need to demonstrate uh in order to move their school and
052be a great fit for their school. Additionally, we use um the Georgia uh leadership standards um to ground those competencies in. Once we use that information, once we collect the information, it helps to drive how we screen applicants uh to make sure that they are the the best fit um for that school based off the needs of that school and the competencies that these leaders have demonstrated in other U. professional settings. We we actually replicate that same process again um with the community at large in which we invite the school council along with other parents of the school um and other community members to be a part of that uh discussion so that they can give their input. And so what this does is the school council only represents a portion of that community and
053that parent base. the process that we're rolling out, it is more inclusive to get a broader perspective of more parents and more people who are surrounded in that community who make up that school community. So they can give input on the actual characteristics of what a what a strong leader could be uh for that school. And so what this does is it does not exclude the school council from giving their input. It actually uh allows us to get greater input from more people. It does um remove a separate interview process in which the school councils uh historically have done um and that is we have two um interviews. We will have one that is conducted by the district and then we will have one that's conducted by the school council. What this does is it
054streamlines that to have one interview process and then our interview process at the district level is then guided by the input that we have collected from the staff as well as the community at large and that's what we use to drive the actual interview questions and also to um assess the candidate for who should be recommended for hire. >> Thank you Dr. Barnes. And I will just say that that often uh can prevent an interview that takes place at the district level that yields a candidate and the council coming with another candidate and then me left having to reconcile the two processes which can be very difficult >> to do as the superintendent when you had the council saying one person and the school leadership uh district at the district level uh asking for another
055candidate based on the interview their interview. >> Uh Miss Hall, >> I also like that this clarifies the responsibility. The responsibility is on the district so that going forward anything that should occur, you know, uncertainties that come out, we are responsible. We cannot make a school council responsible for anything. we are the responsible party. So that's why I'm happy to see this clarification. >> I also like it because at the high school level, it invites students to the table and I think that is often um a a stakeholder voice that is not represented in many things that we are deciding um as a district. And so um we've had a couple of examples where our students have weighed in on the profile and that's been very exciting for me. Miss Campbell. >> Um I appreciate
056too that um it's so comprehensive, you know, in its scope of who we ask um for input from stakeholders. And um I want to point out as well that after hearing from a lot of parents with concerns that one thing that that was taken out in this this policy read today is when requested by the superintendent because we know that you are very um interested in hearing from just about anyone that wants to tell you how they feel, particularly if they disagree. Um but we're not guaranteed that you will always be our superintendent. So, um I think that that was an important uh change to this and um I I definitely support um keeping school councils involved and having even more people involved. So, it's almost like we're kind of adding to what already existed.
057>> Anyone else? There being no more discussion. Uh all in favor. Thank you very much. That concludes your board of education matters for the December 17th board of education meeting. Turning the agenda back to the board president for consent matters and other items in strategic priority 4. >> I will accept a motion to to uh accept our consent agenda. Uh so I would like to move that we approve the motion to amend the agenda with the adopt with the addition of item 7.40 audit of charter committees. What what are we doing? >> I'm sorry. Okay, I am really >> It's okay. We'll give it a minute. >> This is consent. >> So, this is a procedural move of the board. The charter was reviewed during the audit committee that the board recently had on December
05811th. It is a transactional item that should have been included in the consent agenda. We noted that it was not. We have added it. So, the board technically has amended the agenda after it was posted. Okay. >> Second. >> All right. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Wonderful. Hang on. Okay. We have a we have have we have a qu here we go. All in favor? Thank you very much, >> Vice President. >> Okay. All right, here we go. Good afternoon everyone. >> Afternoon. >> The financials that were included in your packet this month are year-to- date through October 31st and that is onethird of our um fiscal year and 1/5if of the school year. for fund 100 um general fund revenues. Our local property taxes are currently at 26% of our budget. That's
059a little bit lower than where we were this same time last year. We were at 28% of the budget. Our total general fund actual revenues, we're at 29 almost 30% of our budget and that compares to the total exactly where we were at the same time last year. Our general fund expenditures, actual expenditures for teachers are at 23% of the budget. Um other supporting salaries we're at 27% which is where we would expect to be. Our total general fund actual expenditures we're at about 31% of the budget and that is also reasonable for this same um for this time of the year. Um at this time we have nothing else to um to make note of on our other funds. Um, but we can take questions if you have any significant concerns or any about
060any of our funds. >> Any questions? >> Nope. Nope. Thank you. >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> Are you finished um with your report? Okay. Um, since you represent the finance department for us, I'd like to um give our the board's gratitude for the 39 years of dedicated and loyal service to the district offered us by Mr. Larry Jackson and wish him God's speed in his retirement. [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you on this behalf of Mr. Jackson and I will relay the message plus quarterly east plus >> update. >> I just didn't go as long as you did. Now coming to the stage. [laughter] >> Y'all look amazing. >> For that. >> Remember 12 12 days of Christmas. >> Oh my god, >> they [laughter] look amazing. >> Well, with that said, good morning or
061afternoon. We'll be briefing your uh esplass update. You all have a copy of the program schedule. There really hasn't been any updates to the program as of yet. Uh your E3 budget. Uh no updates other than 2025. And here's our upcoming activities for the next quarter. We anticipate the last uh seven will be approved today. >> Wait, >> I don't believe STEM is on the agenda today. Correct. >> No, STEM is not. >> I'm sorry. The last three. Last three. >> Okay. Yeah, was in the last seven. [laughter] >> I like trying to slide those extra ones in there. >> Just making sure you're on your toes. >> That's right. Now, we have a couple of uh design professional uh awards we'd like to get through today. >> All right. And uh we'll go ahead
062and jump into the updates of each project. Uh Winds Force is more or less where we're at. Uh at CIC, we're still in that uh the existing gymnasium rolling through um making sure that it is updated and ready to go and will look brand new once we return. Um the uh demolition has more or less occurred there and we are going through restrooms, cleaning up floors, redoing floor, tile, lights, jump through Uh JG Smith uh also uh rolling on uh right now they are uh putting their stud walls up going through the rough end overhead is nearly complete. Um all the foundations and moving towards a slab pour for the cafeteria >> with this one is complete completely gutted out on the inside. Um, and they're moving along with this one. >> Okay, we have
063a question. Mowski, >> on on Jacob G. Smith, is that still the correct schedule or are we >> As of right now, our contractor has sent an updated schedule uh as early as this morning. >> Okay. >> And they are still tracking that schedule. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Until we hear otherwise, that's what we're going with. >> Fantastic. Thank you. uh the Islands High School complex. The uh we will still be scheduled to uh have the bleachers complete and the press box functional by the first soccer game on February 6th. Uh the restroom building and the new fieldhouse will begin after after the uh completion of the bleachers and that will be ready for the end of summer for the following football year. For the Georgetown K renovation again they have completely uh
064gutted out from the from the inside out. Um the rough in for the restrooms are ongoing. Um the schedule is currently on track. Uh we've been working with the general contractor. We had some some hiccups with some permitting at the beginning of construction. Uh we're working directly with them to ensure that they're on track. Hubert Middle School renovations. We had an opportunity to go out and speak with the community uh a couple of weeks ago. Uh did not have many questions uh from the community. I know there were some concerns about uh whether we were going to move them out or keep them on site. Uh but we believe that by the end of the by the end of the uh community meeting all hearts and minds were clear. >> Dr. Hoskins Brown, >> thank
065you. That was a really productive meeting. Um and I appreciate all the work that the team put into making sure that the community was able to get some feedback. One of the questions that I got um about being on site versus using a swing site, which was kind of a popular question at that meeting, but was resolved by staff answers, was that uh the disruption that would come during the renovations um uh during the classroom renovations. And so one of the questions that I have been asked since that meeting is whether or not the changes to the classrooms would be scheduled over the summer to minimize the disruption that they mentioned occurred when the cafeteria was built while school was in session. Um and that was one of the reasons that there was a question
066about portables. Um, so is that is that classroom modification work going to happen primarily in between sessions to avoid is that part of the scheduling and coordinated work that's mentioned in your slide? >> Right. So we're planning on using the CMR for this one and once the CMR comes on board they will provide a schedule for us and once they provide that schedule we'll be able to answer that question much more uh much more effectively. Uh right now we're pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl planning on conducting the majority of the construction during the two summers 2026 and 2027. Okay. Um the conversation about the modulus is
067not off the table. Uh but right now we believe that we will be able to get it done during those two summers. U we will be able to provide a much more a much better answer once the CMR gets on the ground. >> Oh, that's great. Well, thank you. They'll be glad to hear that modulars are not off the table if it if they're found to be necessary. Um and there was some talk about kind of um carting some teachers for some of the work for some of the instruction but I think Dr. Wat were talking about some things are not movable like band and music and that sort of thing. So um if there if there is a need for a modular classrooms is that already in the like contingency project budget or is
068that something that we would have to identify? Uh, I don't have that question for you, right? I don't have that answer for you right now, but I will take it back. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. >> And just to clarify, CMR means construction management >> manager at risk [laughter] as opposed to general contractor. >> Yes, Miss Hall. >> Another item that came up at that meeting was the fact that Hubert has a very um exciting camp every summer that um so I wanted to alert Mr. Butler. uh Mr. uh Dr. Barnes was there though to make sure that that camp can be accommodated in some other fashion so that um it can go on even though it can't be on campus. >> Right. We we've already identified all of the schools that will have
069construction taking place this summer and so we'll work directly with uh Mr. Butler and Dr. Barnes to ensure that uh that everyone has that list. >> Very good. Thank you. for the alternative learning for the alternative learning center renovations. Uh we pushed the uh we had a lot of questions. We had a lot of questions that came in from uh from our contractors when we went through with the with the pre-bid. Uh so we did push that for another few weeks to to be able to get all of those questions answered. We believe what that's going to do is it's going to give us a a much better bid from our contractors once they come in um in January. It will not push the as of right now will not push the construction at all.
070We believe that it'll actually uh give us more time with construction. >> Yeah. So, uh Garden City Elementary is uh with the SSE, our architect. Uh right now they're in the schematic design phase of work. Um they've created a program for that school and are working with the uh working with our project manager on u continuing on the design. >> [clears throat] >> I'm sorry. >> Yes, Mr. Kb. >> Can I go back to the alternative learning center? I had asked this question once before about um the site itself has some terrible drainage issues. Are we addressing that? I hope through this renovation. >> Yes. So, uh I would have liked to have had this out on the on the street a long time ago, but we really took some extra time to make sure
071that we had all of the civil taken care of in our design. Um we went back and had all of the lines uh came. We we wanted to preserve the terazzo that's in the school. Unfortunately, we will not be able to do that uh because we just found out that that the uh the plumbing is it's just not we won't be able to salvage it. So, we took a lot of time. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I was talking about the storm drainage that the exterior >> uh we we've also looked at the storm drainage as well, both interior and exterior. And I don't think that there's going to be any issues. >> Okay. So, we're we're the design for the site will help to mit because it's had it has standing water during a heavy
072rain all around the school. >> Let me make sure I'm asking your question. >> When it rain storm water, we're addressing the storm water. >> We are we're addressing the storm water on that site in our civil. Yes. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Gamble Road, uh, our, uh, maintenance and transportation renovations. Uh, GMC is the architect. We have, uh, recently come out with our, obviously that's on the board, uh, agenda today. And, uh, we are hoping to move forward with our phase one on that quickly. Um, our, uh, our final phase, which is our storage, building, and actual maintenance facility. We are in the programming phase right now with them. Uh some project updates. Just a few of our uh other projects going on is the HVAC at Woodville Tomkins and Islands High School.
073Woodville Tommpkins was awarded a couple months ago and is now equipment has been ordered and and we're tracking there. Uh Islands High School is about halfway complete now. There's a significant amount of work that will go on over the holiday break to start the wrapping up portion of that project. Um, Port Wentworth, the uh administrative annex facility, we are working on finalizing a couple of our numbers for the additional uh the gymnasium component for campus police, but our human resources and our academic affairs departments actually had their furniture show up this week. Um, So, they're cruising on and they should be in there at the beginning of the year. Um, we do have these roof replacements that are also ongoing. Um, several of them finishing up or will be finishing up shortly. And then our
074E5 projects, as we know, uh, we had our initial design kickoff meeting with Hussy Gay Bell on West Cadam this week. uh just a kind of quick overview of of what is desired, what we're looking at, and uh we'll be deep diving into individual meetings with each department soon to create a programming uh programming list for that facility. Uh to a bowl, uh our we have the RFP making its way around. um making sure that we have uh the uh correct uh terminology for exactly who we want and how we want to uh focus and who we want to focus on. Uh Windsor Forest, Pooler, and Ellis. Uh Dre tried to sneak stem in there, but we'll be looking at those three to come out today and and the first of the year we have
075already scheduled, so fingers crossed, but we're already getting going with our architects and hoping that we can really kickstart those. uh the day we get back and uh oh I'm sorry uh Mr. catch Mark. >> Um I just wanted to ask a clarification. Um so my understanding is we're using architects from our on call list to kickstart some of these early projects, but the intent for the vast majority of our E5 projects is to put them out to bid um rather than just go from our pre-approved um on call list. Is that accurate? I I would say that it that it it's accurate for the most part. Yes, we have uh for a lot of our renovation projects uh projects that we have folks on our on call list that are familiar with those projects
076that are not too detailed. If we're replacing ceiling tiles and floors, um that's not too involved. But for some of our larger projects, we we'll be putting those out to bid to uh to arch our >> and I I'll further elaborate. So yes, that is an accurate statement. As um Dre spoke about any small minor pieces, we will still use the on call, but for large um E5 projects or East Lost 5 projects, including the renovations, new builds, things like that, we fully intend to put those out for RFP or through the traditional bid process. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh just wrapping it up here. Palaski K, we do have the modulars going in. Um we are working with the fire marshall to make sure we can uh you use those as the
077day students come back. Savannah Arts, our gymnasium is still complete. Uh and our uh audio enhancement is ongoing and we'll keep going and we have a hard date coming up that we will make >> by the end of June. Uh, Miss Paul, uh, I hope I'm not going to have to have a press conference at Savannah High School, but I'd like to have some sort of report on my softball fields. >> Yes, ma'am. So, the the high school baseball and softball field, the project is ongoing. Right now, we are finishing up the construction documents on that project. Um, I'm waiting on the uh estimate from our contractor. I had a contra I had a conversation with purchasing. We believe that we will be able to use a state contract uh for the baseball and softball
078fields which will save us some time on um on on bidding because the one contractor that is there is the one that's done many of our fields before. Uh so right now we're finishing up our construction design documents and then I'll get the team together so we can all look through it together uh before we uh before we move forward with the contract. >> Well, is there some reason, Mr. Jones that it's not listed under other projects. I get a little nervous that I don't see it at all. >> It was an oversight on my part. I'll make sure it's there next time. >> Oh, I see. Okay. Thank you. >> No press conference. >> We're dressed for it. [laughter] >> Careful what you ask for. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you very much.
079Thank you, >> gentlemen. >> All right. Okay. Of course, it goes down again. Item number 8.03, furniture, fixture, and equipment for JG Smith Elementary School. On April 9th, the board approved an extension of the annual contracts for district-wide furniture, fixture, and equipment bid C19-05 and RFP C23-01 for Mason Inc. and Georgia Specialties LLC. The bids were approved using the vendors as detailed on the agenda item. The funding source for this item is um renovation number 4450006 um one of the accounts. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the purchase of furniture, fixture, and equipment for JG Smith Elementary School for FFN using bid C19-05 and RFPC23-01 districtwide FFE contracts, Mason's Inc. and Georgia specialty equipment and statewide contracts using HNI workplace, Kimbles, OFC, excuse me, OFS, Krueger International,
080Hail and OFC brands, as well as the Omni contract with TENJ AM for the purchase of JG Smith Elementary School F&E. The estimated cost of the furniture is $818,118.34. U Mr. Kashmar uh moved seconded by Mr. Smith. Any discussion? All right. Uh there being no discussion, all in favor? Wonderful. Thank you. >> Item number 8.04, RFPC26-05, CMR services for Gamble Road projects. The purchase department received request for proposal from 11 offers in response to RFP C26-05 CMR services for Gamble Road projects. The intent of the solicitation was to establish a contract for construction management at risk services for the Gamble Road projects consisting of a new restroom and office building, new refueling stations, refurbished sites and parking lots, renovations to the maintenance facilities, and new storage buildings. Administrative review was conducted and all 11 vendors
081responses were deemed responsive and responsible. After the committee evaluation of the RFP responses, a follow-up interview was conducted with the three highest score offerers, Balford Batty Construction LLC, Carol Daniel Construction, and Reeves Young's LLC. Staff now recommends that the RFPC25-05 CMR services for Gamble Road projects be awarded to Reeves Young LLC with an initial stated cost limitation not to exceed $20 million. The funding source for this is East 5 funds. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the award of RFPC26-05 Eastloss CMR services for Gamble Road projects to Reeve Young LLC with an initial stated cost limitation not to exceed $20 million. >> I'll accept that. Thank you, Mr. Katchchmar seconded by Miss Campbell. Discussion. >> Yes, Miss Gowski. >> This is not in particular to this project,
082but at one time we had talked about receiving additional information about the bids when we were presented with the reports including the bid score sheets or just some and I think actually Miss Davidson had presented a template that you were going to start using for when we receive this. Is that in the near future we'll start seeing that information? >> I do hope that we can um provide that information. My understanding is it can be provided after due to procurement laws and rules on how long >> I could be Mr. D. [laughter] Now, there you're >> Yes, M. uh Growski with respect to um all of the evaluation information that goes into uh the decision uh that is is generally maintained confidential until the award is made. uh so that if uh the award were
083not approved, the solicitation was cancelled. Um uh that uh an alternative solicitation could be had without revealing all of that information uh to the general public uh for a future solicitation to maintain the competitive nature of the process or future process. Um that may be something we could discuss arranging uh an executive session in future things as a legal matter. >> I think that would be um I mean I'd be curious to see if the rest of the board but I think that would be helpful. This is a lot of money when we award these projects and having I think for us as a board understanding a little bit more about the the recommendations that are coming to us from staff would be really helpful. So thank you >> Dr. Hoskins Brown. >> Thank you.
084Oh no Mr. Deal don't go anywhere yet. [laughter] He was like, >> um, so I appreciate that answer and I understand the processes that I understand from what you said that leadership is trying to preserve the greatest amount of flexibility in their procurement process. But that's not how we used to do it. We used to get a packet of review material and if it was the case that it needed to go back out, then we had to just approve another RFQ or RFP and and it went that way. So or what it is what you're saying that we have eliminated that process of getting that material so that we don't have to go through the rigor of readvertising. What I'm not aware of specific discussions about any changes to the previous process or or future
085processes. I'm just suggesting that if the question is should that information be posted publicly as part of the board agenda generally I would advise against doing that I would recommend that um information being uh presented in executive session um and I think internally process ways we can discuss ways to make sure that gets gets to you but what we wouldn't want to do is have um all that information necessarily be publicly available before your vote. um uh case your vote is to reject the contract and re renegotiate it or do a new process that the information that vendors submitted is not available to everybody for a second second round. >> I understand what the sentiment is right now. What I'm trying to figure out is when did we change it and on what basis? Because
086it's not like it's something we never did. We used to do it and somebody decided to stop doing it. So, who decided to stop doing who decided that and what was the reasoning beyond what you're saying? >> I I can't answer the specific questions as to when that change may have occurred. I don't know if other staff have some insight, >> Mr. Kashmar. >> So, when we got it, it was never part of the public docket before we voted. it was communicated as part of board information like we would get um student discipline reports and things like that. So I don't think it was ever part of the board docket itself. I could be wrong. >> Yeah, I think you're right. It's it was executive content. >> Yeah. And then early on we used to
087get a lot of challenges and then the voting and the scoring would become a public issue. Um so I I think that's how we got it. I could be wrong, but I think it was executive content not public before the vote. Um, I don't know what was in the minutes after the vote. I don't know if the scoring was there or not. Um, and I I recall I mean, some of us have been on the board 14 years. It's we've been asking to have consistent information in these materials for 14 years. Sometimes we get some things, sometimes we don't. Um, that's a separate discussions. I don't remember a we're going to have it in every contract award moving forward. Typically, it's can I when somebody asks or um that's how it's kind of been in
088the past, but we can certainly I think we need legal guidance on what we can do and can't do and then we'll just set a board policy and then nobody will have to wonder what we should do next board meeting. Well, I'd like to pull this information is in board dots. I'd like to pull what we've gotten in the past and for someone to say why we're not getting that because our legal counsel has been consistent. Our process has been kind of consistent. So, I either want to learn and be educated that what we were doing was woefully wrong and we don't need to do that or or something else. But this lives in board docks. This is, you know, we have that we have the the submissions and the rankings and the rationale because
089part of the discussion was why you didn't just take the lowest bid for something and that content often said, well, these were the other things that were considered. There's there's probably also a a distinction to make between bids that may be publicly opened where the rankings and those things are known subject to subsequent staff review to make sure that they're responsive and responsible and an RFP proposal where um that uh that that process is sort of ongoing and there's not that the the receipt of the proposals is registered but uh all the contents are not publicly. So there may be a distinction there. I would suggest that perhaps with Miss Davidson that we discuss a way to and the purchasing department discuss process uh for making sure y'all have that information properly presented with items
090that are confidential and executive presented ex executive content and things that have already been publicly opened um may be made part of the public record. And then there's just because there's also once the solicitation is completed then certainly those records are public records that are made available uh for [clears throat] inspection. >> So because I wasn't here um are you saying that that information was given to you guys before the decision or after the decision? So, so why do you have a purchasing department? >> Is there still a staff recommendation? >> This is and and I'm [clears throat] not and to be clear, I'm not asking that we receive copies of the proposals at all. I so I not copies of the just a summary score sheet of why the team that was >> is
091recommended for approval >> why that team you know do they have the most experience where are they >> okay >> what are the strengths of that so no to be clear I >> okay >> I do not want to see proposals I don't think any of us need to see proposals >> I may have misunderstood your question because that that's how I initially interpreted so it may be that some additional summary content or memo would be appropriate and that can be >> reviewed for preserving the process. >> Okay. Sorry, I was not more clear. And we can have sideboard conversations afterwards. >> All right. Um so, uh any more discussion on this one? All right. All in favor? Wonderful. Keep going. Item number 8.05 RFQC24-09 Eastlos Geote Techchnical Engineering Special Inspection and Materials Testing Annual
092Contract Second Renewal. On December 6, 2023, the board approved the award of RFQC24-09 East Geo Technical Engineering Special Inspections and Material Testing. On February 5th, 2025, the board approved the first renewal. Staff now recommends exercising the second final renewal option with an all terms and conditions remaining the same. The estimated annual expenditure for this renewal period is 2,500,000. The funding source for this is east funds and um fund 308 capital projects. The funding sources will vary depending on the different projects. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the second and final renewal of RFQ24-09 esplast Geotechnical Engineering Special Inspection and Materials Testing annual contract to the following vendors. Contour Engineering, ESS, Southeast LLP, Goodwood Mills, Cowwood LLC, Terracon Consultants, Whitaker Laboratories, and WSPUSA Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. for
093an estimated cost of $2,500,000. Moved by Miss Gowski sec seconded by Dr. Howard Hall Howard Hall. Dr. Hoskins Brown. >> All right. Any discussion? Wonderful. All in favor? >> Item number 8.06, 06 RFQ25-03 on call civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, environmental engineering, and surveying services annual contract first renewal. On October 14th, 2024, the board approved the award of RFQ20, excuse me, C25-03 esplash on call civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, environmental, engineering, and survey service. Surveying services staff recommend exercising the first renewal option with all terms and conditions remaining the same for the period of December 18, 2025 through December 17, 2026. The estimated annual expenditure for the first renewal period is $5 million. The funding sources for these projects will be east and fund 308 capital projects. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of
094the superintendent that the board approve the first renewal of RFQC25-03 esplash on call civil structural mechanical electrical plumbing environmental electrical and surveying services annual contract to the following vendors. Cadam Engineering, Deliri Weeks, Gal Galileana, ESC Southeast, EMC Engineering Services, Goodwin Mills, Callwood, Hugsy, Gay, Bell and Dong the Young, Method Engineering Group LLC, Moffett and Nicole, Inc. MSSA-PK doing business as Leaf Engineers, Pawn and Company, and Thomas and Hutton Engineering for a total estimated cost of $5 million. >> Uh moved by um Mr. Smith, seconded by Dr. Costens. Uh discussion. All right. All in favor? Item number 8.07 RFP 24-7 staff lap laptop refresh refresh Ary Jones. The Office of Technology and Business Systems seek approval to proceed with the utilization of RFP 24-07 awarded to Arry Jones for the acquisition of 1,400 HP laptops. This
095purchase is intended to replace outdated staff devices districtwide and will support the maintenance of the established 5-year refresh cycle. The funding source for this would be East 4 um funds. Thus, be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the refresh purchase of 1,400 HP laptops from Ary Jones using RFP 24-07 in the amount of 1,77,454. >> I'm sorry. Yes. >> I move that we combine items 8.0 8.07 and 8.08. The sta staff laptop refresh to Ari Jones and the sta the iPad refresh purchase for students. Um as one motion second >> moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Wonderful. Thank you. I move that we approve items 8.07 and 8.08 for the purchases of staff laptop staff and student laptops. Been moved and seconded discussion. No. Uh
096all in favor. >> Thank you. >> Item number 8.09 09 RFP, excuse me, RFQ25- C25-04 on call design professional services annual contract first renewal. On October 18th, 2024, the board approved the award of RFQ25-04 on call design professional services annual contract. Staff recommends exercising the first renewal option with all terms and conditions remaining the same. The annual estimated expenditure for this first renewal [clears throat] period is $30 million. The funding source for this is east funds along with um capital projects 308. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the first renewal of RFQC25-04 on call design professional services annual contract to Barnett Architects Brian Felder Associates CDH partners Codgill and Melril Architect Croft and Associates Goodwin Mills Caldwell, Greenline Architect, Hugsy Greybell, LS3P Associates, uh, Pond and Company,
097Raymond Engineering, and SSE, Inc. for the total estimated expenditure of $30 million. >> Moved by uh Dr. Hoskins Brown, seconded by Miss Grabski. Uh, any discussion? All in favor take the last one off >> janitorial services. >> It's okay. >> I apologize. [laughter] No, >> no, it's not. >> Oh, was it? >> Oh, they may have duplicated it. >> Is there? >> No. >> 8 point. >> No. Do we have it? >> No, I didn't see it. I >> No, your last item under Gulf 4 was 8.09 on call design professional services. The janitorial services was already approved under consent. >> There's not an 8.10. >> 8.10 is a recommendation on attendance boundary changes for Western Chad County. >> Okay. I I've got a different one >> in in the in the paper copy of
098it. The janitorial services are 8.1. >> Yeah. And the online content has been modified. >> Yeah. Modified. The the amount came in on that one under the threshold and what we were anticipating. It was 500,000 is what the recommendation went. So it went to consent. >> Okay. So the next thing on our Thank you very much. Uh the next thing on our agenda then uh is boundary changes and gonna no they have >> yes she has to present it have to talk about it we introduce yes >> all right so good afternoon so Uh what was presented to you in advance was a recommendation to move forward with [snorts] a resolution for attendance boundaries attendance boundary realignment for school year 26 and 27. It was for the east side corridor for middle schools, transitioning some
099of students from Hubert Middle School over to Meyers Middle School and then for boundary changes in western Chattam County that would help ensure that we're meeting our E5 timelines and to deal with space uh efficiency, travel time on the bus, and other uh strengthen feeder pattern opportunities. Uh so thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent. Sorry my computer now has failed. Uh that the board approved the recommended attendance boundary modifications affecting Bloomingdale Elementary School, Puller Elementary School, West Chadam Elementary School, West Chadam Middle School, New Hamstead KA Meyers Middle School and Hubert Middle School as described and detailed in the recommended boundary maps. These changes further the district's goals to optimize facility usage, improve transportation efficiency, and ensure equitable access to highquality educational environments. >> Thank you. Um uh Dr. Hoskins Brown,
100>> I move that this item um be placed on we move I move that we lay this on the table that this be table >> table this table. >> We talk good one day. lay it on the table. Okay. It's been moved and moved by Dr. Hoskins round, seconded by Miss Campbell. Uh, any discussion? >> There's no discussion on the table. >> That's right. We're tableabling. Okay. >> But you just you vote on the table, but you don't discuss the table item, >> right? Okay. So, all in favor of tableabling this. Okay. >> Okay. No. Uh, all opposed to tableabling it. Who's Oh, you're you didn't raise your hand. >> Let's do it again. All in favor? Raise your hand. Hi. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Okay. All right. We are now at
101appearances. We have two people here today. I think uh Miss Gina Smith. >> Thank you. And you'll have two minutes. >> Is it two or three? >> I'm sorry. Three minutes. >> Okay. >> So, that's my graduate from Johnson. [laughter] >> Thank you so much. Um, this isn't an easy process for me and I am a parent who has graduated a kid from Johnson High School who has also participated in the Macy's Day Parade. So you guys, props to the board. Props to the county and I believe tomorrow is 159 years that this board has been in place. So I'm blessed and honored to be here today >> and I wasn't here then. [laughter] Um, so yes, so I'm here really to just also share positive things and thank you for the opportunity to present.
102Um, and then unfortunately I do have a middle middle um, child who is currently enrolled at um, a school within the system and I just want to be uh, very humble about this process. I'm here to present positive but also um express some negative things as well as a parent but it comes from a humble and grateful place and I didn't know like how the process works or who I should reach out to but I kind of felt isolated as a parent to um this in particular um high school to be open to share that with them. Um so part of your mission statement and I'm almost finished um is together we ignite force the lifelong learning at the highest levels for all. Unfortunately, my son falls into that mental health bracket. Um, he did
103graduate from Georgetown K through8. And my son is cringing as he's watching all these things happen over there as well, but happy um with the renovations and um since that graduation um whom he's not here, he is struggling with that and he is not as fortunate as Jeremiah um to maneuver through academic progress without special education services and I have utilized that. However, at this time as a parent, I do feel failed. Um, and it's not easy for me to say that you guys are all articulated individuals who got this down pack and I'm grateful um that you represent the county of Chadam. Um, but I am going to leave cards um so that if you do want to find out more and know more about my concerns um please feel free to reach out
104to me. I don't have the form. Tamika, whoever you are, thank you so much. Um, [laughter and clears throat] uh, I me and my son were like, "It's time to go. I gotta get meet. I gotta go back to work." Um, he's like, "You're next." And so that's why he was really excited. So, I'm grateful. God bless. Happy holidays to all. And I'll leave like 12 cards here so you guys can reach out, please. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much, >> Miss Brian. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> I want to begin with peace. The light that each of us carries. Unity is built when voices are heard, not silence. Silence allows darkness to grow. When we speak with courage, truth rises. I stand before you today, not as an adversary, but as
105a parent who believes deeply in public education, accountability, and the rule of law. I stand on the wisdom of Elizabeth Betty Savage [snorts] who raised generations of children and taught me to document not argue. Stand firm, compromise when possible, and always work together for the greater good. Over the past year, I experienced limitations on communication and access without written notice, without appeal appeal rights, and without reference to board approved policy. As a parent, I have seen how silence and delay do not remain abstract. They affect a ch a child's sense of safety, stability, and ability to function of learning. Policy exists to protect every student, parent, and educator alike. When informal practices replace former policies, families are left uncertain about their rights. I have also been told that staff discomfort justifies delays or restrictions. Respectfully,
106discomfort is not the law. Georgia law OCGA19-7-5 does not allow discretion to replace mandated responsibility. I am concerned that protected advocacy public part participation may have contributed to retaliatory treatment even as this morning. I have asked respectfully to clarify consistent transparency so trust can be restored and all families are treated equally. I believe in this district. I believe in educators and I believe that when we choose to light our silence, we all can protect all our children. Thank you. And again, my full name is Mrs. Angelisa Savage Bryant. Thank you. Merry Christmas. I will now accept a motion to adjurnn. Been moved, seconded, third. Uh, >> yes. Congratulations. That was our last board meeting of 2021. [applause] >> Yes. Happy holidays, guys.