001Good afternoon and welcome to the Wednesday, May 7, 2025 regular meeting of the Savannah Chattam County Board of Education. Um, I will uh ask our secretary if the meeting has been posted. She assures me it has. Uh we will uh open with our national anthem and pledge. Good afternoon. Today we have members of the Windsor Forest High School band performing the national anthem. They are directed by Shaquan Hayes who is in his second year as the director of bands at Windsor Forest. Mr. Hayes has grown his program tremendously over the past two years. You may have spotted the mighty marching nights throughout the community as of late, most recently at our books, blankets, and family fun event. We are honored to have these students with us and thank them for their time today. Um, please
002remain standing after the national anthem for the pledge of allegiance. [Music] 28. [Music] [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. Nice. Let's hear it again for the Windsor Forest High School band. Okay, I'll accept a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. All in favor? Uh, yes. All right, our announcements for today. Okay, we have a capital sorry capital improvement committee meeting on uh Tuesday, May 13th uh at 2 o'clock here at Whitney, we have the uh retirement reception. Of course, this by invitation only, but um on Tuesday, May 13th from 5:30 to 7 at Savannah Tech um finance committee meeting, Wednesday, May 14th, uh from
0039:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. here in Whitney. Uh Mayday at Massie Heritage Center uh Wednesday, May 14th uh from I don't think these times are right. From 10 till 11, but check for changes. Um, we have a board uh public hearing on the budget number two on Wednesday, May 14th at 6 PM here at Whitney uh New H. Okay, here we go. New Hamstead High School graduation uh Monday, May 19th at In Market Arena at 900 a.m. Jenkins High School graduation. Monday, I'm sorry, that's wrong. New Hamstead is Monday, May 19th at 9:00 a.m. at Market. Jenkins is at 100 pm at end market. Uh Groves High School is Monday, May 19th at End Market from at 5:00 PM. Windsor Forest High School, uh Monday, May 20th. Uh oh my gosh. check. Okay, I'm just
004going to read off the dates because they have uh they have different days here for me. So, uh so May 19th, Groves High School will have his graduation at In Market Arena at 5. May 20th at Enark Arena. Winter Forest High School at 900 am. May 20th, Savannah Arts Academy at 100 pm. Islands High School, May 20th at 5 PM. Beach High School May 21st at 900 a.m. May 21st, Woodville Tommpkins at uh 1 p.m. Johnson High School, May 21st, 5:00 p.m. Savannah High School, May 22nd at 900 a.m. Savannah early early learning and early college uh graduation at 100 p.m. on May 22nd. Of course, uh Memorial Day is May 26. Uh and of course we will be out that day. Our June regular meeting is Wednesday, June 4th here at Whitney. And we
005have a hearing for the closure of Schuman Elementary uh Wednesday, June 4th here at Whitney at 5:30. uh me remembrances. Um uh Berna Ruth from Windsor Forest Elementary. Uh uh data passing 422. We have uh peer professional Julie Jackson from the learning academy data passing 418 and from student information specialist from Butler uh Cynthia Sims data passing 326. If we could all stand for a moment of silence. [Applause] And I have a special announcement today. I'd like to take a moment to recognize an individual on the superintendent's cabinet who has been helping shape our school district since 2006. He has worked under two previous superintendent and now finishes his tenure in public education, helping to transition new leadership and support the vision of our present superintendent. when the technology breaks down. How repro. Uh he
006is the first one we call. When students need learning devices, his team is always ready. He has grown our major business systems, advanced our our cyber security platforms, led our district data and accountability teams, worked closely with the board's accountability committee to refine the longstanding district accountability system and strategic plans. And he was the elite administrator to help define our school district as a strategic waiver school system. These were just some of the highlights of his work and major contributions to the students, staff, and families of our school system. Dave [Applause] [Music] Feliciano retiring at the end of the week. This last board [Music] meeting on Okay. Now, okay. On behalf of the board of education, we just wanted to take a moment to say thanks, David, and make sure you know how valued your
007contributions are to this school system and our community. You are appreciated. We wish you the very best in retirement. [Applause] We will be missed. Thanks for everything. [Applause] Yes, Dr. Howard Hall. I just like to add that he is the reason why we have seccps.com because when I first came aboard in Chattam County was cadam.sabannah.jorg us.com. I didn't know that. I didn't know that. That's great. And now for good news headlines from our superintendent. Good afternoon. and I'm excited to kick off uh the good news for the month of April by sharing with you our April student of the month. The superintendent student of the month for April is a senior at Windsor Forest High School. The student is everywhere according to his nominator leading initiatives and building great relationships. Michael Bar, family and commu
008community resource specialist at Windsor Forest High School said, "It is hard to describe the impact this student has made on the student, staff, and families at Windsor Forest High School. He has assembled teams and organized schoolwide events such as the recent multicultural festival. He is just a great kid with a lot of heart. In addition to the multicultural festival, our scholar has organized events such as the community involvement expo, sources of strength, and the reindeer games fundraiser. He is a member of the attendance matters board and serves as a positive peer influencer and a peer mediator with the mediation center. Our recipient is described as a close student advisor to the principal and her team. His achievement in terms of service and support to the admin team, family engagement team, and his teachers are outstanding.
009His friends say when you know him, you see him as someone who has the school's back and will do anything for us. He also demonstrates a clear commitment to academics and is in the top 10% of his class. When asked what motivates him to strive for academic success, our student says, "I like to keep my grades up because I want to strive to get better and set myself up for success in the future." Please help me congratulate Tyler Elliot, the superintendent student of the month. [Applause] [Music] Great job. Congratulations. Tyler will be taking home several gifts from our sponsors, including Members First Credit Union, Advertising Specialties, Georgia Southern University, Gulfream, and a $100 check from the Savannah School's Federal Credit Union. In addition, Tyler and his English language arts class will receive copies of his
010favorite book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lax by Rebecca Scloo, donated by our sponsor, Eshaver Book Seller. And I'd like to take this time to recognize Tyler Elliot's family and friends. If they are here, please stand. Thank you for all you have done to raise this amazing young man and also his principal, Miss Brooks, and Mr. Barf, his nominator. Please stand. Thank you also for pouring into this student and nominating him for this special recognition. Um I would like to continue our calls for applause today by um extending a kudos to two of our high schools. New Hamstead High School and Woodville Tommpkins Technical and Career High School both have been recognized with a 2024 single statewide accountability award by the governor's office of student achievement. The the schools are recognized in the greatest gains
011category based on the most recent college and career ready performance index scores. Only 146 schools across the entire state were recognized as 2024 greatest gains schools. New Hamstead High School was awarded a silver for exhibiting high growth in student achievement over the last three years. And Woodville Tommpkins was awarded a platinum award for exhibiting high growth in student achievement with academic growth over the last three years in the top 1% of schools in the state. Woodville Tommpkins was one of only 15 schools in the state to be recognized at the platinum level. Let's give them a round of applause. And even more accolades for Woodville Tommpkins. The Georgia Council of Economic Education has announced the top winners of the spring stock market game. And once again, it is Woodville Tommpkins technical career and career high
012school student who took the top spot. 11th grade student Angel Perry clinched the win by transforming her initial $100,000 investment into an impressive $180,000 investment by the end of the 10week season. Congratulations to Angel and her coach, Dr. John Cook, who also won the state teacher competition this spring. They are now headed to Atlanta for the stock market game awards lunchon. We'll have to get them to manage some of our own portfolios. This is outstanding. Exactly. We'd all be rich by now. Please join me in congratulating also Beach High School's business department on successfully completing and becoming industry certified for the first time in school history. and to Windsor Forest High School's business department for indust industry reertification. Industry certification programs are programs that are successfully uh they you have to undergo successful uh rigorous
013process and be successful um that are re that process is reviewed by leaders from business and industry and you have to be recognized with distinction. Congratulations on a job well done and a special thank you to Dr. Leona Gerredo for leading the team and helping those schools be successful. Congratulations is also to be extended to the Fairbear Writing Competition winners from Marsh Point Elementary School. The Fairbear Writing Competition is available to fourth through sixth graders. And the 2025 competition had over 3,300 participants from all across the state of Georgia. Fourth grader Dorothy Dean took first place in the fourth grade competition and Savannah Acy was a system winner in the fifth grade competition. Kudos to these amazing scholars and their teachers, Mr. Kenneth Miller and Mrs. Heather Agger. Hats off to William Mayor of Savannah
014Arts Academy and Faith Abigu of Woodville Tommpkins High School for their selection as 2025 Georgia Scholars by the state superintendent Richard Woods. The Georgia Scholar Program, a program of the Georgia Department of Education, identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school, community, and life. A total of 145 graduating seniors from across the state of Georgia have been recognized with this prestigious award. Also, Soul C. Johnson High School validictorian Selena Elaine Hall has been awarded the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. Selena is a member of the National Honor Society and received the outstanding theater tech award in drama competition. She is a member of the family career and community leaders of America and has volunteered at the second harvest, the Tabby Beach Cleanup, and Word First Church food drives. In the fall, she
015plans to attend the University of Georgia where she will major in film studies. Selena aspires to work in the film industry with a specialty in lighting or audio work. Congratulations, Selena. We're very proud of you. A huge stallion thank you to all the young ladies with a purpose from godly station K8. These students helped pack nearly 700 senior boxes at Second Harvest. These girls also worked hard and showed some awesome teamwork packing those boxes. Thank you to these students for their service and for helping to support our community. Congratulations to Deshawn Hardy from Woodville Tomkins for being selected as the recipient of Gulfream's Aerospace $60,000 AI Wright scholarship or Alright scholarship. This achievement is a testament to Deshawn's hard work and the power of strong partnerships between education and industry. We are deeply grateful for
016our ongoing collaboration with the Gulf Stream Aerospace um partner and we couldn't be prouder of Deshawn's accomplishments. The future is bright and we can't wait to see where your journey takes us, Deshawn. A special thank you to Kyle Ryner for the incredible work he has he does with our students in the apprenticeship program and to Al Walton Al Wright for his unwavering dedication and tireless efforts. Additionally, our ongoing success would not be possible without the incredible leadership of Principal Alfred Maguire. See, I've lost my place here. A big shout out to SCAD Serve for their support of Meyers Middle School. The Buzz Business vi the Buzz Bus visited Meyers last month as a part of the university's art supply donation initiative. SCAD delivered several boxes of supplies to the Meyers Middle School art program with
017a variety of materials designed to spark their joy and creativity. Following the art project in the classroom, hundreds of students were treated to a celebration in the gymnasium. Scad's elite performance ensemble, the Bsharps, put on a show with SCAD's mascot, Art the Bee, encouraging students to dance and sing along. We thank SCAD for their long legacy of giving back to our schools. The mediation center also hosted the 2025 youth programs recognition and awards celebration last month to honor the remarkable contribution of young peacemakers, including peer mediators, volunteers, and positive peer influencers who are making a difference in our schools. Two of these schools were honored at the celebration. The most influential school award was presented to New Ham to a New Hamstead high school student for its for the school's overall impact throughout the 24-25
018academic year. The platinum award was presented to a Jenin to Jenkins High School for conducting the most peer mediations and for successfully fostering a culture of conflict resolution. Rihanna Brown, counselor at New Hamstead High School, was honored as the high school coordinator of the year. William Ross of Mercer Middle School was tapped as middle school coordinator of the year and Johnson High School senior Eric Johnson Jr. was recognized as the peer positive peer influencer of the year. The extra mile award given for going above and beyond in dedication, leadership and impact for consistently exceeding expectations, demonstrating outstanding commitment and making a significant difference within the program was pres presented to Angela Corinthian from Jenkins High School. Ashani Mauler of Jenkins High School also received the peer mediation student engagement award. Thank you to the mediation
019center for their commitment and involvement with our students. And that concludes um our calls for applause this month. Thank you. I will now pass the agenda over to our representatives from uh the superintendent's professional senate for their report. Good afternoon. Afternoon. I'd like to say thank you to Chef and the Woodville Tommpkins culinary program students for providing hot and cold appetizers to help the Senate celebrate together as we met for the final time this school year. It was a delightful way to wrap up our time together and thank you to Dr. Watts and the cabinet for your support and to Stacy Jennings for organizing. The finance team presented the budget development process update to the professional senate to gave to gain staff feedback on investment priorities for students, stakeholders, employees, and stewardship. After discussion on
020each topic, feedback was gathered via mntyetter polls. One area in particular that was wellreceived was differentiated support in high need schools. Other topics of further discussion included media clerks moving from 0.5 to full-time positions, filling counselor vacancies, longevity step increase, 403b vendors, and communication through outreach and engagement. Uh, also, Mr. Butler presented a uh work calendar update. He reemphasized key points regarding the work calendar, including the staff planning day in February and no meat weeks, including this week during teacher appreciation week. The February planning day provides uh wellness activity opportunities to staff but is first and foremost a day for teachers to have planning time as needed. Last February, this date was also used for staff training. In the future, this date will not be used for training so that all teachers can utilize this
021protected planning. As part of the commitment to teachers for fewer interruptions to planning time, the district has provided four no me no meet weeks where schools do not schedule meetings. Principles also have the option to add additional no meetat weeks to their school schedule. One request arose to have the dates for the no meet weeks be posted on a landing page for employees, perhaps on Class Link or Brightpace where all teachers uh access daily. This will help with communicating and cascading information. The Senate Safety Subcommittee met virtually with Chief Enoch and Lieutenant Pratt to discuss safety in our schools and to advocate for resources for any site improvements needed. Dr. Watson, the cabinet met to review information shared by the Senate. I also spoke with James May, head of maintenance, and learned more about the
022work order process and how much progress has been made this spring. Safety and security is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate the prompt attention from all district staff involved in attending to issues as they arise. Senate members were asked to reflect on the best practices and accomplishments of the Senate this year and on suggestions for next year's Senate. Feedback was gathered via Google forms and will be shared with Dr. Watts and with our 2026 Tatiana as we patched the torch for the upcoming school year. The 2026 teacher of the year Jennifer Hughes and the 2026 instructional support person of the year Jabari Heyman attended the Senate meeting. We have worked incredibly hard this year and nurse Bordon and I are proud of the work the Senate has accomplished together. Thank you to Dr. Watts and
023the cabinet for your attentive diligence, professionalism, and approachability throughout this process, and we have worked together to make sure that the resources and procedures are in place for healthy, safe, focused, and productive teaching and learning environments. Thank you for a great year. I would be remiss if I just did not acknowledge Professional Senate and the incredible leadership of Miss Graham and Miss Gordon. Uh, this year has been I thought last year was productive, but this year was amazingly productive. Um, and it's due to the leadership of Miss Graham and and Miss Bordon. So, again, thank you for your leadership and you will be missed, but we hope you'll stay till Mr. Hader. Thank you, sir. Continuing on your board agenda, moving into board matters, we do have a few policies for the board's review. First
024one, item 6.01. 01 is board policy BC AEA hearings. You'll note that this particular policy code section is hearings appeals and it really sets forth the process wherein an individual who may contest or be agreed with a decision of the board can effectively appeal it to the state board of education. So language has been cleaned up a little bit just to streamline uh the language and the process and the reference to that particular statutory code which provides the guidelines for making that appeal. This is a 4-year review first read. Any questions? Good. Moving on. Item 6.02 is board policy CED. This is superintendent appointment. Very simple policy language here, straightforward, no recommended changes. This has been reviewed by staff and the board attorneys. Uh, no recommended changes here. Subject to the board's final review. We'll
025consider this one complete under the board policy review process. Moving along on your agenda, your next policy read is board policy FG, facility projects administration. This is a 4-year review, and you'll note that there are substantial changes in this particular policy. Uh this policy has been uh an ongoing review behind the scenes, if you will, which uh recently it's been brought into the spotlight based on certain federal requirements and guidelines that have been provided recently. And in this uh review process, we've been able to fold in those recommendations and those requirements uh from the federal government as it relates to this policy area. So, uh, again, much of what you've seen in here is is policy cleanup and is primarily coming from, uh, work that we've, uh, been doing with the board attorneys on this.
026I'd like to thank attorney Holiday, uh, and attorney, uh, DeL who have contributed greatly to the language recommendations that you see before you. Uh, this is a first review on this policy, uh, review under the four-year review process. Uh, subject to feedback from the board, it'll come back for a second adoption in June. Uh, Dr. Hoskins Brown. Thank you. I just have minor edits on this policy on the first I'm sorry, the second paragraph under long range facility planning. The language in this paragraph that defines the long range plan is from when we first set up a long range plan and didn't have one. Um, and so rather than the board is seeking to create a plan, we have a plan. We've had it for a while. So, I've just made these edits to make
027it an an active existing plan. and I'll pass it to Miss Edwards. Miss Gerowski. Um, I did have a few changes that I sent to Mr. Hediger and I apologize that I sent them kind of late. I did spend a little extra time reviewing this policy. I will share these with the board and happy to circulate them. Um, for uh cleanup there in the second paragraph, there was some contradiction language between whether repairs were or were not included. So, I suggest some cleanups to that. Um and on page two about how uh RFPs and RFQS are procured, I would suggest that we remove email as an option. We now have an online platform for submitting proposals and submitting proposals via email can be very problematic. So I would suggest that we remove that from the
028policy. Um, on page five under the definition of local, we had some discussion previously, I think it was in the CSC meeting maybe, where we talked about what local means. I would suggest that we consider adding a requirement um that a local business will uh should hold a business license for at least a year to be considered local. Um, that is not uncommon. It's something that's I believe the city of Savannah and Chattam County both do. It keeps it kind of prevents popup vendors from simply applying to get a business license uh just to go after a project and be able to claim that they are local. I think at this time it's even more important that we are um doing everything that we can to encourage our local vendors to be participating in our
029projects. And then the final change is in section um seven under our sustainability guidance. I would suggest that we expand this to really be a more holistic approach beyond just sustainability but to also include uh human health and wellness and retitle this high performance healthy bis uh buildings. Um and under paragraph one um include language to that effect that SECPSS is committed to initiating developing and implementing sustainable business practices in the design, operations and maintenance of our facilities to ensure that our buildings promote health and well-being of occupants while achieving energy efficiency, sustainability, long-term cost savings. Um, accordingly, SECPSS will pursue an approach to high performance, healthy buildings that balance fiscal responsibility and stewardship with the intent of this policy as follows. Um and then add a bullet that includes um some of the language
030that reflects importance of health and well-being of the um occupants, including being designed to lower long-term cost of maintenance and ownership where practical utilizing design guidelines and uh be designed to promote healthy environments through strategies for high indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water quality and conservation, thermal comfort, natural light and views, noise control, safety and accessibility, sustainability, and notoxic materials, and regular maintenance and inspections. I know that's a lot. Happy to circulate it by email, and I apologize. It was kind of um late in the day when I finally got around to digging into it. So, thanks for entertaining those as considered uh modifications. Anyone else? Yes, President. Just to address some of those comments, Mr. Kowski to begin with the the distinction the repairing and repair language that you point out is copied verbatim
031from the statute. So to the extent uh uh that is uh creates potential confusion. It shows some of the potential ambiguity. I think the operative word is that comes before the modifier is routine. And that's the distinction they're trying to make is routine repairs versus some dramatic overhaul that makes it become more like something uh new. But uh thank you for that careful attention. As to the email, that certainly could be done. As a matter of practice, the district has migrated fully to uh an e-rocurement platform. Uh but we were thinking just out of an abundance of caution, things happen to give the the purchasing department the flexibility to use email if there were the need to in some emergent basis. Uh but that is certainly not expected as a matter of course. Um appreciate
032your additional thoughts on the local uh business. We made some other changes to try and make sure people are not gaming the system as it were and we appreciate that additional idea as well as uh your addition with wealth of your experience to the sustainability uh portion which was really something that was we didn't dive into very much on this and we appreciate that extra insight. Mr. Kashmire, I appreciate the effort that went into reviewing and revising this policy. I agree with um um Miss Grabowski's comments. I would add I would like our mission statement or goal or policy at the beginning of this to be focused on an efficient expedited process that is legally compliant. Um, so in the past when I first got on the board, we we would have board meetings where
033there'd be a proposal to propose or to approve a contract and then a bidder would show up and say, "Well, I didn't get that text message." And then somebody would say, "Well, there was an email. It was posted on the website. It was posted on a piece of paper outside of our procurement office. It was in the paper." Yeah, but one time three and a half years ago, my uncle got a tax and I didn't get one. And so we would delay a vote on the contract. And I'm being a little facicious, but not much. Right. Um and and so to the point where we can be and part of it was growing pains with East Blast with trying to build a local vendor base um uh so that you know we would have more
034competition etc. But we're a mature procurement entity now. entities know how to do business with us and if they can't figure that out because we've simplified our process then um I'm I'm more interested in um moving forward efficiently externally and both internally because it's a burden on our staff as well. So to the extent we can minimize our jumping through the hoop requirements and still comply with Georgia law, I'd like to do that because we've had historic concerns about efficiency and the process being slower than slow. Um, so I I I'd like that to be our our goal in in dealing with vendors because it's easier for them, too, if they're if they know I have to do three things instead of 17 and make sure one has a blue cover and the other's on
035a USB drive and all that stuff. So, I'd like efficiency to be a driver as well. Thank you. And to that point, Mr. Catchmar, with the roll out of the new bonfire system, we retoled the forms. Um, we've condensed the supporting documentation to the solicitation force from 14 to 4 um and tried to make it uh uh more streamlined and easier to read. Just so everyone knows, I did not we did not set that up. It looks like it, but but I think we can do better. I think we can do better. So, this is the first always strive to do better. This is the first read. Thank you. Anything else? Anyone else? All right, Mr. Hediger. Thank you, sir. Moving on. We do have one other policy change. This one is aligned to some
036of the work that we did under FG, which was in response to recent federal recommendations and guidelines. This is board policy FD. This is the area where we have facilities long range planning. And this particular uh review now is a midyear review. And again, this is being brought in a a bundle, if you will, because this recommended change also aligns with portions of what we did under policy FG. So, while this is a mid-year review, it is a first read to the board of education. We'll come back for a second read adoption subject to board feedback. Dr. Hoskins Brown. Yeah. Sorry, I meant that one. I'm sorry. This is the one that I had edits for. Oh, noted. Okay. Did you get that? Okay. All right. Okay. Coming to the podium for this next agenda
037item for the board. This is an action item to be read into record for the board's review of our academic calendars for 2627 school year and the 2728 school year. These calendars were formulated in draft uh review for the board which was covered at the last board of education meeting on April the 9th. These calendars in the development process do mimic the previously adopted 2526 academic calendar and considers the pressures of certain um events that we'll have. We'll say here in our market that are unique to our area and other pressures of the calendar that we want to account for. Some of those key factors are the timing of the first day of school, the timing for state assessments, staff planning days, remote learning days, previously known as e-learning days. You'll now see them on
038the calendar as an RL, remote learning days, and there are fewer of those in these calendars as we've heard by feedback uh in the process of getting to the calendar recommendations. Of course, federal holidays, Thanksgiving break and winter break, and of course, the ever popular St. Patrick's Day break here in Savannah. Both of these calendars do represent 180 instructional days. They do have the required 10 staff planning days. We did place with um some great feedback and recommendations from our professional senate five full pre-planning days in both of these calendars and we have two post-planning days. And we'll remind in these particular calendars that the way Memorial Day falls in 27 and 28 years, it is late in the year. So the school year ends before Memorial Day and the two post planning days end
039before Memorial Day in these calendars as well. So we were excited about that. Uh the calendars were posted to the district website for public consumption and they were also circulated again with the superintendent's professional senate for feedback. I will add one caveat. In a recent very minor change, uh we were reviewing some of the impacts on election days in the forward years. In having a conversation with the board of elections chair, Mr. Billy Wooten was very helpful uh and did give us some good guidance to say that the election in 2026 is likely to be highly attended. We should see a lot of voter turnout. As you know, we do use our schools. We do have partnerships with the board of elections in Chattam County to provide our schools as polling places uh based on
040that election in 2026 which will have an open seat for the governor of Georgia. We understand that the lieutenant governor will be likely taking a bid for the governor. So that is an open seat for lieutenant governor and the uh the state attorney general attorney is also did uh the attorney general for the state of Georgia is uh presumed to take a bid for the lieutenant general or lieutenant governor's seat. So as you can see there's a bit of a domino effect there. So all three major seats in our legislative body for the state of Georgia will be open in 2026 for that election. All told with that said we expect high voter turnout. So, we took the remote learning day that was planned in September in 2026 and we put it on November the
0413rd. So, that is the only change from the previously shared calendar that the board had reviewed. With all of that said, we do have an action item now for the board. Thus, be it resolved upon recommendation of the superintendent that the board does now approve the 2026 27 and the 2027 2028 academic school calendars. Uh, Miss Hall and seconded by Dr. Hoskins Brown. Any discussion? Dr. Hoskins Brown. Yes, I'm I'm uh thoughtful of all of the uh changes that have been made and I'm supportive of them. Only minor uh item is I asked at the last meeting that all federal holidays be recognized and we still have one that's not recognized. I know it's a controversial one. So, I don't know if we're making a cultural statement or whether we just didn't. Well, on Columbus
042Day of 2026, which is October 12th, there is a student staff holiday. And we also recognize the same in October of 2027. October 11th, Columbus Day is a student staff holiday. Right? And so what I asked was, could we recognize all federal holidays by name? So it's not been done. So I'm asking, have we made a conscious decision to not recognize that holiday? We have not. And I think I understand fully what you're talking about, which is the menu that lists all of them by name. We can certainly do that. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. No problem. Uh Dr. Howard Hall, then Mr. Yes. Thank you. When looking at the calendar, it is my desire that we that this calendar will actually improve student attendance and reduce teacher burnout. When I look at the days
043and include the weekends, and it's important to include the weekends. Fall break, that's five days for students, four days for teachers. Thanksgiving, nine days for both teachers and students. Christmas 17 days for students, 16 for teachers. Then we have our MLK observance day. We have our remote learning days. spring there's 10 days when you include the weekend as I said earlier for students and teachers and this does not include the summer so maybe communication as stressing how many days they have out of school we have a lot of days out we celebrate throughout the entire year so hopefully this would be a tool that we can use to actually increase our student attendance sheriff if I understand that to the inverse actually is to say that miss school miss out and you have plenty of
044times to be out of school in the approved calendar. So, ensure that you're there and in attendance on the 180 academic days. Yes. Amen. Okay. Uh Mr. Gowski. Um I think I'm probably in the minority here, but I really like that. I'm not going to like fight this, but I really like starting school not on a Monday in the middle of I just think for families for I just think it's an easier transition um back into school that way. And I'm saying that as a parent as well as a school board member. Um I'm also one that's not crazy about having our teachers go back in July. I realize that pushes it out in May. Um, but I I I just that's my own personal and and I think we also saw that reflected in
045some of the feedback. I know we didn't get a lot of feedback. Um, but we did see that reflected. Again, I'm not going to, you know, advocate for that change per se. Just sharing my perspective. Um, and then one other note, and this is not specific to the calendar, but it does pertain to our holidays. Um, I've heard multiple instances where school either school activities, district activities or and homework gets assigned when it falls on a holiday. And so I think that's a disconnect maybe with our academic team that we are that we are protecting those true days off as days off for our families. Um for students to be assigned uh may given an assignment that's due right after a holiday when they receive it the day before is not honoring that holiday. Um
046I would almost 100% bet that that's not our academic team. That's an individual teacher decision. Yes, let me clarify. I'm not saying our academic team. I'm saying that there there needs to be some improved communication or something to protect holidays as holidays that filters down to the individual teacher level. Thank you for that clarification. Okay. Yeah, that's that's I would just as another parent with kids who graduated from the system or are in the system, it happens more frequently. Um, and it's the whole point of a break is a break, right? So, messaging I Yeah. Okay. No, go Dr. B. It was going to be me, so I'm always lost. Go ahead. I'm good. The last commission first. Um, everything. I It doesn't need to happen on this one, but I would love to have
047a rubric for our designated makeup days. Okay. Yeah. Just I know. I know. I'm gonna keep drumming it until I see it in writing somewhere so that we can educate Chattam County on if this happens then this rather than what's the school board going to do when there isn't when people call you be like there isn't a vote here's the policy. Yeah. So thank you. We talked about it extensively. We did. Anyone else as Monday? I just have I just have a clarifying question. Um, and we may have addressed it with this calendar. What are we doing for uh the Jewish holidays? And if if students are out on those holidays, are they counted absent or do we is that excuse absence? not well as it relates to the attendance and the absence I would
048u have to defer to our uh academic team but uh this these calendars that we have adopted over the years based on the pressures that we have again on the available days in front of us the breaks that we commit to um have traditionally utilized Good Friday as the holiday on the calendar. So, as far as a day off goes, um any particular uh Jewish holiday, I'm not familiar with as far as a day off goes, but as far as how we recognize it across the district and how we manage and work with our families uh for those days off is something we could look at. Okay. Uh I thank you. Yep. So, those are excused absences. Thank you. Okay. That was that was my that was my question. Okay. Uh Dr. bring Reverend Smith
049and I had a sidebar and we're just Is that written somewhere in We talked about we talked about attendance this morning a bunch. So is that part of some policy that Yep. It's in policy JBA. Okay. Okay. About religious holidays being excused. Yes. Awesome. There you go. Wonderful. It's in JBA. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Uh there being no more questions, call for the vote. All in favor? Thank you very much. Turning the agenda of the board president for item 6.06 and item 6.07 board proclamations. So I will be reading the National School Nurse Day. As a school nurse, I am proud to read this or not a school nurse but a nurse. Um so a proclamation is presented to celebrate National School Nurse Day. School nurses are considered an integral part of the educational
050process, contributing to the well-being of every child to ensure all students achieve success in school. We along with the National Association of School Nurses celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of school nurses everywhere and their efforts to meet the needs of today's students by providing and advocating for quality student centered care. We offer gratitude for school nurses, not just on this national school nurse day, but in every opportunity throughout the year. Thus, be it resolved by this board of public education that we do hereby proclaim May 7th, 2025 as National School Nurse Day. You need a motion first. I'll need a motion to accept thisclation that we accept. Go ahead. I'll move that we accept. Second. All in favor? I. I. And nurses, please come up. Want to and I want to point out that one
051of the nurses coming up is the now retiring Christina Chansy. Thank you so much. Captain Captain this way. Thank you for all you do. Thank you. I was waiting for you to say one more question. Thank you. Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. So much. Thank you. I love you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. How are you doing? [Applause] And now your board of education proclamation for teacher appreciation week. I am so honored to bring before you the proclamation for the National Teacher Appreciation Week proclamation. It recognizes the valuable contributions of our teachers. The board of education would like to officially recognize Teacher Appreciation Week that is designated nationally from May the 5th through May the 9th of 2025. Thus be it resolved that the following proclamation be adopted. Whereas Savannah Chattam County Public School
052teachers make schools great. And whereas teachers work to open minds to new ideas, knowledge, and dreams. And whereas teachers keep American democracy alive by lying the foundation for great citizenship. And and whereas teachers fill many roles as listeners, explorers, role models, motivators, and mentors. And whereas teachers have a lasting influence on us long after our school days are only memories. Now therefore be it resolved that we recognize the week of May 5th 9th through 9th 2025 as National Teacher Appreciation Week to celebrate the significant contributions our teachers make for our students and this community and that all citizens take time throughout the month of May to thank a teacher adopted this seventh day of May 2025. Mr. Roger Moss board president Dr. Denise Watts, superintendent. And I'd like to personally say that if you can
053read our mission statement and vision statement, please thank a teacher throughout this month. Once again, [Applause] Okay, we did that kind of out of order. I make a motion. Accept a motion. It's moved. Moved and seconded. All in favor? Uh, thank you. All right. Now, I'll accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. Yeah. What? In my packet, the minutes are in front of the consent agenda, and I have corrections to Oh, I'm so sorry. No. Huh? Is it? Okay. All right. Yeah. No, it's it's it's after the consent. Oh, it is. No. Yeah, it's in in the packet is before, but in the doc, I'm only going by my paper packet. So, I've moved to approve the consent agenda and then I'll make my comment. Okay. Movement seconded. Uh, Dell discussion. Thank you. uh
054in our minutes on page uh minutes of the last board meeting held on April 9th um okay there's not a page number it's item 6.15 it has voting for the motion um including Dr. Howard Hall but Dr. Howard Hall was not present and on the um voting of the consent agenda it has Mr. Cashmar is voting nay. Um but I believe he abstained. He abstained. Correct. Okay. All right. It's been noted. Okay. Any any other discussion? All right. Uh all in favor? All right. Thank you. Where are we? Okay. Right. There we go. On to financials. My favorite. Yes. Yes. Sorry. Uh, Mr. Mr. M, I just want to commend the staff on one of the items that was in the consent agenda on the on the resolution for Renaissance learning, the near pod plus
055and flow flow tabulary plus software. The resolution for that was so excellently done. It had who, what, why, the background, why, why, and how we would use it. And I complain about resolutions when it doesn't have enough information. Um this so this was the resolution on renaissance learning. It had everything I needed to shut up and not argue at all about it. So I encourage you to do that with all other resolutions. Yeah. Someone please do more of that. Yes. Good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. The financials that are in your packet for this month cover us through year to date March 31st, 2025. Um, for these statements, it's 75% of our fiscal year and 75% of our school year's elapsed. For fund 100, the local property taxes are currently at 66.8% 8% of our budget,
056which is a little lower than where we were this same time last year at 68%. Total general fund actual revenues are at 69.87% of our budget compared to 69.8 last year. So, we're right for the total. Our actual expenditures for teachers are at 61% of our current budget which is lower than is expected at 75% at this point of the year and our other support salaries are at 67% which is lower than expected between the 70 and 75%. Our total general fund actual expenditures are at 61.6% 6% of our current budget as compared to 59.2% last year. Have any questions on our finances? We have nothing else to report on our other funds um ex um exceptional or extraordinary. Mr. K, I just have a general question. Are we getting any forecasting information from tax
057collector's office or the state on the impact of tariffs and anything going on economically on projected tax revenues in the short term and long term? I haven't seen anything. Um, we haven't received any notifications yet. No, sir. If if those start coming in, could you please share them with us? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. I will try to run through the agenda items. Um all of the items have been posted to board docs and made presented to the board prior to this meeting. The first item we have is the midterm adjustment for fun fund 100. The FY25 budget as adopted included at 500,000 for the midterm adjustment. This was based upon the anticipated increase in the average FTE count and historical increases in the governor's budget. The midterm allotment sheet shows an
058additional increase of $841,9. Thus the amount that need to be recorded is1,341,9. So there's a difference of $841,000 and $9. Thus be resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the amendment of general fund fund 100 budgeted revenues and expenditures by $841,09. been moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All right. There being none. All in favor? Thank you. Okay. The next item is a budget transfer and the general fund to create a budget for the summer school program. The Office of Instructional Excellence and the Office of School Leadership request approval for a budget transfer in the amount of 2,720,961 within the general fund to support the 2025 summer Excel learning and enrichment programs. The detail of the transaction is in the chart below. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of
059the superintendent that the board approve the amendment of the general fund 100 budgeted revenues and expenditures by 2,720,961. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Kowalsski. certainly support our summer learning opportunities and and all they present for our community. Um, a couple years ago, well, whenever it was when we came out of the COVID fog, we did a a big push with Embrace on our summer programs. Correct. And I feel like since that time when we we promote them but not like when we did embrace it was like a big like announcement and I would you know if there's the opportunity to maybe I think it's probably a little late for this year but maybe for next year if we can kind of take that same approach um and really promoting those
060opportunities for our families um I think that would be beneficial just to make sure that families are aware and I know we talked about the timing of that because we need to do that early in the year to make sure that families are aware when they're making their summer plans about those opportunities that are available. Yes, ma'am. I believe that was probably mentioned when staff did a presentation, I believe a month or two ago, and I'm not sure what transpired. Yeah, we we've been doing uh marketing for the summer school. So, I'll have to go back and check the channels. I do know um we did some targeted marketing, too. In fact, we've used some publications in venues that we haven't used before for that, like Southern Mamas, for example. We've um actually done some
061some paid um promotion and marketing and and infomercials, if you will, in there to put summer school out there. Been highly uh promoted on social media for us and also it's been a marquee on the homepage of the website for a number of of weeks. So, uh, to the extent that anyone hasn't seen it, uh, we have been working to get the word out there, but we'll certainly use what we've learned this year in trying to get that, um, even greater level of reach and impact, uh, for future efforts when it comes to summer school. But, um, I what I'd just like to make sure everyone is aware, we we've not certainly not done nothing. Uh, but we have done a lot. Uh but we will continue to look at ways that are most effective
062in uh reaching that broad uh reach and impact so that um we can all feel uh feel good about going into summer school. Well, and and I don't mean to imply and please I'm sorry if it came across that way because I know that there I've seen a lot of information. Um, summer school I think has a connotation as punitive versus an opportunity for more, you know, robust hands-on engagement activities like junior university is a great example of one that's not summer school. You're learning. It's very interactive. Um, and and I think those things are being from what I've seen a lot of those things are being promoted individually which is great. But before we had this here's a robust selection of offerings that included remediation as well as advancement and presenting it in a
063more holistic approach I think takes some of that um what could be perceived as punitive out and that's what I'm trying to kind of get us to to think about it. I appreciate that that that's very helpful too. In fact, just uh remembering back to the days of Embrace, the name itself, right, kind of set the tone for that. So, um do Yeah, this is the first time I've seen the naming of Excel with our summer programs. And if I missed it before, that's on me, but I don't recall seeing that before. But that's a great example of, hey, this is a way to not just catch up, but to excel and move forward. So, thank you. Yes. Uh Dr. How? Yes. I just like to say it is outlined nicely on the website because
064I go to the web a lot when I go out to my community meetings. So I was able to share and outline what was going on during the summer. But I do recall the embrace and I think that the missing link in that was that we shared it during informal. So the board members felt more connected. But since we hadn't had that embrace presentation, it feels as if nothing hadn't really been done. But a lot is going on. It's just embedded on the website. All right. There discussion all better. Wonderful. Thank you. Okay. The next item is a an east plus 4 um transfer. Uh it started out as one big transfer and as you noticed we divided it into three parts. So the first portion of that is a budget transfer revised for revised
065programs scope capital projects developed the final list of projects to be completed in E+ 4 and budgets that will align with the anticipated revenue. The current esplas 4 budget includes projects that have expanded scopes and are now scheduled to be completed in east plus 5. Below our list of projects where we are making adjustments. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approved the budget transfers detailed above to align each plus five budgeted costs four budgeted cost to the revised program scope and revenue. Move. We've been seconded. Any discussion Mr. Catchmire? Um, so this agenda item is tied to the next agenda item, correct? Okay. And a an additional item number two. Yep. So my question is, um, in this agenda item, we're moving 85 million from E4 to E4
066unallocated. The next agenda item, we're then moving some money from AL unallocated back to some specific projects. But the 85 million here, is that going to be the total unallocated E4 balance or I think there was like 60 million in there. There's some money that's currently in the unallocated. Okay. So, this is an addition. This is just the E4 out transfer. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? There being none. All in favor? All right. Okay. The next item is really to complete some items that are that will remaining E4 due to both the expanded project scope and the projects listed below and to cover cost increases recently experienced in the construction marketplace. The budgets for the remaining east plots four projects need to be increased in the amount of $64,765,200. Thus be it resolved
067upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the budget transfers as shown. Been moved seconded by Dr. Howard Hall. Um any discussion? Yes, Dr. Howard Hall. We have a question. Um Mr. Kashmar allured earlier earlier about tariffs and I noticed here that the construction marketplace with the increase it is does that have anything to do positively with tariffs? Uh if not mistake, most of these increases were before the tax. Okay. Okay. All right. No more questions. Uh there being none, all in favor. Okay. Thank you. The next item, bid 21-02, lawn care services. This is for a district-wide contract. And this is the fourth and final renewal. Thus be have resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the fourth and final renewal of bid 21-02 Lawn Care Services Districtwide
068annual contract to the firms of Manker Landscape LLC and Tadwater Landscape Management for an estimated annual cost of [Music] 1,120,000 to include any as needed out of scope work moved by um Miss Hall and seconded by Mr. Smith. Any discussion? Yes, Miss Hall. I'd like to say generally that I am um happy with the services from Manker and Tidewater when I ride around and see our campuses. Um, I just wonder there's some things on the campus that aren't really the province of the lawn keeper. So, I guess that's our inside uh division maintenance that we'd have to talk to Miss Davidson about. Okay. But, um, I think the work has been very well done by both of these companies over the years. Yes, we have. Anyone else? All right. There being no more discussion. All
069in favor? Uh, all abstaining. All Yeah, let's just skip to it. All abstaining. Thank you. All right. The next item is for the lease of facility for administrative use. The following actions support the SECPSS central office move. This agreement for the use of certain property located upon the Savannah campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, a unit of the University System of Georgia is made between the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Savannah Chattam County Public School System tenant. The district seeks to relocate central central staff who currently work at 208 Bull Street central administration location in preparation for the future use and reconfiguration of 208 Bull Street facility. A suitable location has been identified at 190 technology circle Savannah Georgia for district use. Thus, be it resolved upon the
070recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the rental agreement for district use of certain property located upon the Savannah campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, a unit of the University System of Georgia, subject to the terms of the enclosed agreement, and authorized the superintendent or designate to take all necessary steps to fully execute required documents. and seconded. Any discussion? Yes, Dr. Hoskins Brown. Okay. Okay. Okay. I just like to say that I'm very pleased um with the decision to use Georgia Tech because it has the amenities and the austere academic environment that, you know, we'd want our uh people from 208 to use. But um uncertain will you as the superintendent move your offices there or so you that's where you will be also because I know at some point we had talked
071about whether you'd be going over to uh the Savannah High campus area but um so there are several sites in which the individuals that are currently housed at 208 will be dispersed to. Uh the main camp the main um campus outside of Georgia Tech is Port Wentworth. I will be going with the Georgia Tech side um of the team that is going um and eventually a smaller group of uh central office people will relocate back to 208 Bull Street. But we've got to work on the design of the building and of course most of the building will be used for facil for student purposes. Mhm. Okay. But right now I uh will be with the Georgia Tech side. Okay. House. Thank you. I'm really happy for a solution that's really supportive of staff. Um this
072is something that we've talked about needing to happen for some time. And so I'm very happy that staff are going to have a work environment. Um that's not going to be a structural dis um distraction. I didn't mean to say disaster, but a structural distraction or it's still the head. It's still the head. Um my only concern is that this is in no way a a user friendly site and I don't know exactly who's going to be there like what stakeholders, parents, you know, community members that would need to meet. But um if if if I had to relocate to this location, it would be it would be a strain for me. It's it's the location is just really really far out. So I'm concerned about individuals who don't have access to the transportation that
073would as easily as they would be able to get to 208 Bull to be able to talk to people at this site. So I'm hoping that we'll maximize the use of technology and be really flexible with people who need to convene so that you know with an understanding that we have moved out of the way but the services are needed um in town at times so that it doesn't become an obstacle for parents and families and we have been very mindful of that. I will say that in many cases where we know a department has a high level of engagement, daily engagement with the public, those departments are actually going to be housed at Port Wentworth. We've made sure that they're on the bus line and their different, you know, opportunities for engagement. Um, it
074is an acknowledged strain for some employees who have been used to a commute over a long period of time and are now having to adjust. I would say a part of our robust plan also includes some remote work options to help relieve some of that. Um so we have tried to be as thoughtful as we can about all the different um challenges that this move may present. Um and hopefully when we get the Savannah High School annex ready, it would bring some of these departments back closer into town. So that is really our primary strategy. Most of what you're seeing is temporary right now. Howard Hall, you want to go? Okay. Yes. Thanks for addressing everything as everybody just asked questions. Um I thought about the printed materials with 208 Bull Street with the address
075on it. Will that be a major um impact because I know we have a lot of materials with that address on it? And it's just something to consider for the next four to five years. I know it's it's a it's a small thing to some, but really it's something to consider. You we have been working on this for months and we literally have a deck that has that guides every employee through all the actions that have to be done. I mean, it is like a step by step by step by step by-step guide. Literally, I have stickers on things in my office that say move, take to storage, be ready by Friday. Um, and we do know there are a lot we will need to do a communication campaign to the broader public because 208
076Bull Street will not be a landing space anymore. So, most of that communication is planned for this summer um so that we can correct places where we have things um at 208 Bull Street. But a communication campaign will also be coming with this. Dr. Springman, I fully support the need for our staff to no longer be in 208 in its current condition. It is difficult to swallow these numbers. Um, when I am supposed to look out for the taxpayers's dollar, um, I would love to know the last time that Georgia Tech was able to rent this 25,000 square feet. I think that building's been empty for a really, really, really long time. I can go back and confirm, but GFream was their last occupant and it was several years ago. Yeah, several years ago. Um,
077and it doesn't seem like, you know, the state, because it's owned by this university system, cares about trying to rent it. So, they're going to keep it at a at a massive square foot cost. They're going to treat us like we're a private industry and jack up the commercial rent every year, as is the way that commercial rent goes, which is just absurd. Um, and of course, like all commercial leases, they're going to make sure that everything falls on our pocketbook, and they're just going to turn the keys over. So, outside of the half more than half a million dollars every year to to lease this area, we're going to pay another $75,000 in the estimated operating expenses. Um, it just is just seems like an absurd amount of money. um for what we need.
078Um I'm not great at, you know, this is my wife's expertise to read rental agreements. Um I hope we can get out of it a lot sooner and I hope that somewhere in this agreement there's a clause, but I couldn't find it to let us get out sooner. Um because 590 up to $647,000 a year for the next four years just seems like an awful lot of money to tack on to the additional cost of repairing 208. So yeah, so when base annual rent is those are those are hard numbers to swallow for me and I'm I'm sure we've done our due diligence and look for other places for space, but it will be difficult for me to um say yes to this. Acknowledging your uh concerns, I do want to be clear that Georgia
079Tech it's a bond payment for this space. So they are not tacking on an additional cost. That's just a pass through for what they have to pay for the management fees and and other pieces. They haven't done talking about on the operating expenses. Yes. On the Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's still just I mean, out of the $74,000, $55,000 of it is just the maintenance of of air conditioning stuff. Uh feel like we already have people that can maintain stuff. So, why are we having to pay for a maintenance agreement when we have individuals that we employ that maintain things like it's just it's it's it's the state nickel and dime the state um and moving tax money around and it it irks me. So, it might not irk four more of us, but it
080irks me. I acknowledge the cost. Um, I will say Georgia Tech has been a good partner to us. We do monthly principal meetings there and I think we do so at no cost. Low cost, very low cost. So, we we have leveraged their facility monthly since I have been here. Um and that is actually one of the preferred locations for when we meet as a team or when we bring all of our principles together. So I do recognize that you know what you see black and white is you know it is a lot of money. Um, we did explore I don't know how many other sites it was comparable if not more and the facilities in in and of themselves would not have accommodated what we need or would have posed many other issues. We
081spent months on this. Um, and this is where we've had to land for now. Again, once we get the Savannah once we get 208 Bull Street complete and once we get the annex at Savannah High done and we will move as quickly as we can, uh we will be able to hopefully shave something off that. But I do fully acknowledge and and I fully acknowledge the ridiculousness of commercial places. Yes, it is. This was actually one of the cheapest and we looked at over 20 additional sites. So, and it was one of the cheapest. Dr. Hoskins bro. So that's I asked a question about this the last time it was on the agenda and it was pulled and what I never understood is when we started becoming a client of Georgia Tech, why and how.
082And that's why choosing this location was unexpected for me when it came forward. However, understanding the space that we needed, the condition of the space that we needed, and the inability to locate it at any of our sites, I don't love it either, David. I really don't love it, but I accept it um given the alternatives. But why are we having principal meeting? Why had we why had we been renting space for principal meetings at Georgia Tech when we have all of these auditoriums and cafeteriums and all these other spaces in the district? The model that we're you've used since I've well in this last year really for principal meetings um it they're more like work sessions and they have breakout rooms. It's not just come and sit in an auditorium and listen to people
083talk to you. the the space that we have needed has required um people to be able to sit and collaborate in small groups or we're going to move elementary principles to this room for a breakout meeting and middle school to this and we don't currently have a facility to my knowledge that would accommodate that type of meeting space. Um, if we would be meeting at a school, certainly we could use an auditorium, but we would not have the ability to to move people around. And our central office team also attends our leadership meetings. So, you're talking about 75 to 100 people. So, the professional learning that happens here doesn't use that kind of model or not with that number of people. Not with that number of people. No. Okay. During the school day, too. And
084during the school day. And during the school day. Okay. I we typically meet for a whole day. Okay. I I thought that happened here. If someone would have called me and said, "Hey, where are those things happening?" Because that's why we keep this facility. We don't have the space. And remember, this facility is going to be closing. So, we lose we're going to lose this facility within the next year. But no, that's not where those meetings take. Yeah, I I get it. We are losing it, but we hadn't lost it a year ago. I just didn't know we were renting from Georgia Tech all this time, which is why I kept asking, why do we keep returning to Georgia Tech when we're looking at 208 bull function? It's because that's where we've been anyway. Okay.
085All right. So, I got just wanted to know is there a date um certain yet when you will be ex exiting 208? We're doing it in a phased process. So I believe our technology team is actually leaving 208 first and they may be in that transition now. Um we have certain departments like our internal audit team that I believe has already transferred to remote learning. Um my office transfers I believe mid June so it's in phases and we selected the technology team first so that they could go and set up everything so that when others arrive all the technology and things of that nature would be up and running but even some of our technology team is now uh remote work so um it's a phase there's no drop dead date I think when is
086the drop when will everybody be out everybody is planned to be out by midepptember Yes. So, it's a very phased exit. Okay. That's a long time for people to have to stay. I had hoped you all would all be out midsummer given the terrible conditions at 208. So, anything that could be done to speed that up would be wonderful. Absolutely. And it's priority based on what's going on in the department. So, for example, academics goes on where it's priority based on what's going on in the department. So academics is one of the last to leave to go to Port Wentworth because the summer is so important for them to get the start of the school year successful. So we didn't want to interrupt their business as well as like HR, right? So we can hire
087all those wonderful teachers. If we were to disrupt that, that may be detrimental. So they are on the latter end. And that human resources also. Okay. So Sean, Mr. Katchmler, thank you. Um, just uh I I generally agree with the why are we paying money to lease something when we have 60 plus facilities, but I've talked this through extensively over the last several months um with superintendent and some staff and I understand why we need to do this. We don't have the capacity. We don't have the space at the time we need it. The way I look at it is number one, we were putting in five to 20 million a year into 208 on various things over the last decade just to keep it from falling apart. Um, so there is a little cost
088offset there. Um, and in my other life, in my business, we are looking at office space as well. And I will tell you there is no office space in Savannah. Um the rest of the country there's a glut of office space, but in Savannah um there isn't. Especially 20 15,000 square feet and up, 20,000 square feet and up. Um and uh I I know that just from our our business and this space in particular, I think it also is already out. It's already outfitted. Um, I think Gfream left cubicles and desks and filing cabinets and um, so it's it's not a perfect solution, but it's a pretty good solution given the market and and the pricing per square foot too is um, downtown Savannah prices are 57 52 high 40s triple net, you know, and
089that's so there I'm I'm not offended by this lease at all. Um, and I know that you all did your due diligence looking around for office space. The other thing is, am I reading this right? That it's a one-year term and it's renewable at the landlord's discretion, not ours. Because it says landlord may offer tenant an option to renew at the expiration of its term for up to four consecutive one-year terms. That's 4.1. So, yeah. And I think they're they're trying to maintain some flexibility. I think an option to review. I read that as we have an option to renew. They're offering us the option to renew. So I think it's a two-way relationship. It's not that we're stuck with being there for 5 years. It's year-over-year. We have the option. That's how I read
090it. Well, I see a one-year renew. I see a one-year commitment with one-year renewals, but it also says landlord may offer tenant, not the parties may mutually agree to renew. So, let's just think that through. We'll get we'll get clarity, but I think an option to renew renew means we have an option. So, with the full caveat that I am not a real estate attorney. I don't play one on TV. I did not stay at a holiday and express last night. We can make sure we address that in the final contract. Okay. Mr. Smith, thank you. Uh, thank you for this conversation. I wanted to ask a question. Um, do we have any plans on attempting to build or uh inquire a property that would be able to uh hold and house our principal meetings?
091Uh, so that we're not always do do we have like a date by which we think do do we have like a date by which we think we'll be able to move some out to the annex at Savannah High or Port Wentworth? We do have timelines on those projects. However, I don't know that it would decrease our footprint in that facility, nor would that uh reduce the cost that we're paying. Um because of the way the space is configured, it really is not um suitable for to partition off so that you could have two different entities ex coexisting. Is that the that that's absolutely correct. So it would be um challenging to partition it off or to add additional walls to create a separate space. Um but the idea is uh to keep in mind
092that we are having to pay additional funds for the lease space. So as we can uh utilize the timeline to maximize Bull Street and the Savannah annex, we are maximizing that um construction as much as possible. And I I think one of the things that's been brought up here that would be interesting is for us to show how much we currently pay to operate 208 Bull Street. Um because that offsets or minimizes the price that we the money that we are spending. And we are also uh prioritizing 208 Bull Street and the annex at Savannah High. They will be two higher priority projects. We're trying to make sure we take care of the schools, too. We got the West Chadam, but we have moved those higher up in the priority knowing that we can we
093need to get out of paying a lease and get back into our own property. So, there are multiple strategies happening to as fast as we can get out of the space to minimize the cost um that we are putting into this space. Awesome. So, that's great to hear. Prioritizing I think that's wonderful. Being the West Chatam representative, I can understand that we can walk and chew gum at the same time and we can do all the things, but I think it's good for the public to hear that we are prioritizing this so that we're not spending money on rented space. So, Paul, once um Savannah High annex and well, I'm thinking how soon can we sell this building? we would have board meetings at the Savannah High annex or wherever um so that we could
094get this money on the books for this property. So, this space has become an interesting discussion. It it was going to be my hope that we would be able to get out of this space uh fall, late fall at the latest um because we would be moving the existing records office and uh print shop from this facility over to Port Wentworth. Um but we are negotiating space with campus police and they want to maintain a footprint. Um, and so we are for some of the things that they need to have, right? Um, and so it may be that we have to keep records here for another year. Um, and then move them to Hopkins Street when we move building Bridges. So when building Bridges goes to new alternative school, that also gives us additional time
095to um prioritize um electronic records. And so we're not moving records that could just be electronic format. So that would be less for us to move. So it may be a year before we can put this building on the market. But um that's still very much in discussion, but I think we're landing in a place that it's probably going to be a year. [Applause] Mr. Kashmar, there's a motion pending, right? Yes. So, I'm going to move to amend the motion to authorize the superintendent to execute any agreement that might be amended to address some of the issues we discussed during this conversation like clarifying the renewal term as long as it doesn't substantively modify the entire term or the monetary value. Any discussion on that? And yeah, go ahead. I I just really do think
096that the concern about whether or not it's a mutual discussion of renewing the contract is a really important item. I mean, that's that's kind of a deal breaker. Um, all right. All right. So, um, all in favor of the amendment of the amendment. Wonderful. Okay. All in favor of the emot of the motion with the amendment. All opposed. Okay. The next item also support district administrative movement bid C25-09 Port Wentworth auxiliary administrative annex central wings and hallway renovations. The purchasing department received bids from three vendors in response to bid C25-09 Port Wentworth Auxiliary Administrative Annex central wings and hallway renovations. Bids were received from Founders Maintenance and Restoration out of Savannah, Georgia, United Grounds Maintenance Services Incorporated out of Glenville, Georgia, and Scott Development Group Construction out of Savannah, Georgia. Staff recommends that this bid
097be awarded to the lowest and responsible bidder, which was determined to be founders maintenance and restoration, at a total cost of $749,750. Also included is a transfer within the operations project construction account to Port Wentworth Renovations, which is in fund 308. Thus be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the contract with Founders Maintenance and Restoration for the Port Wentworth Renovations at a total cost of 749,750 and be it further resolved that the board approve the budget transfer from operation projects account to the Port Wentworth renovations account as upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the contract under RFP C2504 on call design professional services annual contract with SSEE Incorporated for design services for the Garden City Elementary School renovation project at a total design professional fee
098of $940,727. Okay. Um, can I have a motion? It's been moved and seconded. Discussion. Dr. Howard Hall. I did have questions and they were addressed um via email regarding the location of the um professional design team and the location is Savannah/Atlanta. So, have they been in Savannah for a long period of time? We were discussing earlier about identifying what's local and what's not and how long a particular company has resided within the town. And since I saw that there are two locations, I was just wondering whether or not they just recently moved here or we the representative that they have here has been here for quite some time. in fact has worked for another local architect um for many years prior to that and has done some projects even that u we had with that
099particular firm. I guess when I asked for, you know, examples of the work that they've done and it didn't have anything in Savannah, it was examples of work in in the Atlanta. They're they're a na they're a national firm have done just tons of K12. They have a huge presence in Atlanta obviously and you saw the the references that they had, the projects that they've done. You know, we've been trying to expand our list of architects for quite some time. talking with them, encouraging them to get a presence here in uh Savannah and particularly when you bring in a resource like that that has all that experience and has such a great resume. We're really excited that we can put them on a project. Okay. So, this design at Garden City can be another example
100to for their um portfolio. Yes. As opposed to everything being done up north in the Cobb County area. So looking forward to see what happens. Miss Kowski for when we receive these the I appreciate the information that's provided as far as the bid process and and so on and so forth. It'd be helpful to also get at least a little understanding what the scope is because it just says renovation. So it'd be helpful to understand a little bit more about what's included in that renovation when we see these come through as well. Thank you. Uh yeah, we can do that and we certainly will address that in CIC next week too. Anyone else? All right, there being no more discussion. All in favor? Okay. The next item is for the purchase of type D school
101buses off of a statewide contract. Thus, be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the purchase of 10 type D school buses from Yansy Bus Sales and Services utilizing statewide contract SWC 99999 SPD SWL 2020 30001 as identified in the chart above at a total cost of 2 million67,200. So move it was moved and seconded. Any discussion? Wonderful. All right. All in favor. The next item RFP 24-07 student device purchases Jones Educational Solutions. The Office of Technology and Business Systems recommends the additional purchase of 12,000 HP Chromebooks and 280 HP laptops from Ary Jones Education Solutions Educational Solutions and the amount total amount of 5 million $173,600. The again you have the breakdown below of the Chromebooks and laptops and amounts Thus be resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent
102that the board approve the purchase of 12,000 HP Chromebooks and 280 HP laptops from Aries Jones Educational Solutions using the district contract awarded under RFP 24-07 in the amount of 5,173,600 moved and seconded. discussion. Dr. Bringer, and I'm sorry for doing this in the middle of the meeting. I didn't math when I read this the first time and now my math is not mathing. Um, so our the initial RFP was for the 4 million for the 12,000. Understanding that has increased by 944,000 since we approved it. And now we're asking to use the same RFP to purchase the 280 for the 229,600 which gets us to that 5,173,600. But then what I don't understand ah y'all deleted the stuff that got Okay, thank you Dr. Brman. That question was raised in advance and we did
103provide a correction. Um Mr. Flesiano can certainly give you some background. No, no. I was like I was like somebody added things up and it doesn't think we issued the the blue paper is the correction paper. I had taken this paper and didn't look at it. I love it. I told y'all it takes a village miss I would like to hear from Mr. Feliano. So you're saying the Chromebooks will now be distributed to various schools um from CILA to I mean how how do how do I get that from my school or what's the procedure for that? Yeah. So uh the request came in from CILA that the Chromebooks were not meeting the needs the instructional needs. They use a product called Labster which is an interactive immersive uh online lab solution where they can
104do labs completely online but it requires a Windows solution and for it to work. So the decision was made we will replace all their Chromebooks with window laptops and then those Chromebooks would then be distributed to schools that are in need. That sounds like a very good solution to me and I'm very happy that if that's what our kids at Seala need that we're able to do that in a timely manner for them. So, um, a few months ago when I did a little member moment, I talked about uh my trip to uh Thank you, Bowling Green. I was about to say Green Bay. Uh but uh you know, one of the things that stuck out was how they had a computer um repair pathway. And they had students that worked on all of the
105computers for all of for all the laptops for all of the schools. and and what it was, it was it was not only CTA, it was the kids were paid and the money that they saved by doing that in addition to giving these kids real life experience. So, you know, I just want to reiterate that. Uh oh, and Dr. Watt just said that they had it in Charlotte as well. So, yeah. And it was a weekend job. The kids made like $30 an hour and they uh companies across Charlotte would donate devices because, you know, most companies have a cycle, too. And the kids would take the devices apart and reassemble them, and we would distribute them out to families and um to the community. And the kids learned a ton and got paid for
106it. Now, who paid that? The companies did the companies who now now in Bowling Green, the school system was paying the kids because they're working on this all of the schools. And I would have to look at the funding model we used in in Charlotte to pay the kids, but the computers were out of cycle devices from companies that typically every three years would be recycling a device. But I will tell you that the impact that it had on students was what was the most impressive um because they learned so much about those devices. It was incredible to watch. My own son participated. So Brown just to attest that it can be a successful program even in a in a volunteer and nonprofit capacity. There used to be a program here in Savannah called Goon
107Squad and they received and several people volunteered with them and um the leaders who developed that were extraordinary and we lost them to the Atlanta metro area but um there were companies that gave off cycle equipment and in in that case they used open-source operating systems but I volunteered with that program. It does a lot for the people who participate. It also gives a disposal mechanism for companies who are trying to dispose of offcycle electronics. And if it can generate jobs uh for our students, particularly those who maybe weren't thinking about CTAE, um I think it would be a great thing to pursue. All right. Thank you. All right. Yes. Uh, Scowski, sorry, I know we're chatty this afternoon, but this makes me think of and I'm I'm glad to see that we are recognizing
108the specialized need at CILA and getting them the materials that they need. Um, but it makes me are we offering like do other schools have that opportunity to be able to tailor their technology to their needs? So, for example, I know we have some some Apple schools, so they have to have the iPads. Um, Miss Graham will appreciate this. My daughter was telling me that, you know, we have a band teacher who was trying to fund raise for iPads because music is so expensive and one student ruined their music because it got wet and they tried to microwave it to try it and it ruined the music. So, you know, looking kids are creative, right? This is our dinnertime conversation. But it just makes me think of um and I know a lot of these
109are the onetoone devices that we have for our students, but opportunities to make sure that we are providing the technologies to the school that it is the technology that that particular school or program may need. So just want to plant that seed as we continue along this technology evolution conversation. Yeah, I could say that uh we have a diverse uh list of devices that we use to support the schools. Now, we we do need to be careful because the more you spread yourself thin, I get it, it becomes extremely difficult to provide support or to maintain the technology that's deployed, especially when you add security on top of it and you try to control what what type of access is provided. But we work if we get a request from any school um we work
110closely with academic affairs to make sure it is a valid request. It is a need instructional need uh and how to best to integrate it with our existing infrastructure to ensure that they are successful. Okay. Dr. Howard, how well since Miss Mr. Feliciana is the man of the hour and this probably be be your last meeting. My question is what what do our inventory look like for our damaged and lost Chromebooks? I know we here we're talking about the obsolete for Sigler but the other um schools that have you know a significant amount of damaged and lost Chromebooks. We have about 40,000 devices. uh and I believe our percentage as far as damaged um it's I think it's le running less than 5%. So we have looked at that ever since the COVID period we've
111started tracking that to make sure that we had the protocols in place uh to ensure that the systems were being taken care of and we significantly has decreased those uh broken and obsolete devices. Uh but it's more now that we're seeing is the life cycle from that COVID period that we're starting now to replace a lot of these obsolete devices. Anyone else? All right. All in favor? Thank you very much, sir. The next item, RFP 25-26, audio enhancements annual contract. The purchasing department received two proposals in response to RFP 25-26. Audio enhancements annual contract from Net Planner Systems Incorporated out of Peach Tree Corners, Georgia and Visa out of Atlanta, Georgia. and a no proposal statement from Bloom USA incororated out of Phoenix, Arizona. Staff recommends the award to Net Planner Systems Incorporated with an
112estimated cost for the initial one-year period of $4,750,000. Thus be resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the award of RFP25-26 audio enhancements annual contract to Net Planner Systems Incorporated for an initial performance period of one year with an estimated cost of $4,750,000. Moved by Miss Hall, seconded by Dr. Howard Hall. Uh, Jess, um, I'd like to ask Mr. Butler or or Dr. Watts, um, in terms of implementation of this program, because I've been talking about it since it first came on the scene. And what I'm hearing is that the schools that really have bought into it are doing amazing things with it. But that we do have some schools where, for instance, the uh, the kind of uh necklace that teachers can wear if there's a security problem in the
113classroom. That kind of thing, I understand is going very well. But in terms of the instructional use, I had mentioned that this morning to everybody about how a teacher can record her lesson as she's teaching so that a child at home can get the benefit of it. Is there anyone who intentionally works with making sure that schools are buying into this so that this money really enhances um our students? I will let Derek go into detail, but I will say we had to reboot our implementation efforts last year um because we had to get legal to give us a perspective on how these things could be used because students can be recorded and parents don't always want that. Um instructional technology had not been at the table to really help roll out. Then there's a
114safety component um that campus police provides oversight for and then there's the facilities component. And what I found is that each of these departments were kind of going down their own track and none of this was kind of coming together in a comprehensive way. So we rebooted last year and provided some development and clarity. Um Derek if you want Mr. Butler, if you want to speak a little bit more about the instructional aspects of it, that was a part of that reboot. Well, Dr. Watson, I remember some uh discussion about whether the cameras in the classroom were invading privacy. Yes. So, so you're saying all that is kind of worked out now? We have now codified information, training, and support. So, there were some schools that came on before. we had to grab those schools,
115right, and get them up to speed and now and then there was a group of schools coming on board. So, we had to grab those schools and now we have more schools coming on board. So, it's a it's a process, but uh Mr. Butler can speak a little bit more about the development opportunities that we have provided. Yep. And so we're building on that momentum uh with the uh collaboration with all of the divisions uh and the professional development implementation is going well. Um we are uh engaging our professional learning department as well to help uh bolster the uh the professional development how we leverage the technology for instructional purposes. Uh and so uh teachers in schools um receive training around the um the cameras uh prior to activation. Uh so we're very intentional about
116that. Uh and so we have some some model schools uh and so we'll continue to leverage those as exemplars uh as we support and on board our our schools that will be um installing the equipment here in the future. Okay. I I noticed at Jenkins High that the media specialists were kind of the hub of this whole thing in terms of getting the excitement out to the other teachers and in terms of training and that kind of thing because to me the the more intentional we are and the more it's a person's responsibility to to see that something happens the better the chances are that it's going to be implemented. So, um I guess what I'm asking is that um some attention be paid to who is responsible for seeing that this program is standardized
117at all the schools and so our kids get the most benefit out of it. Yes. And it's been a coordinated effort with our instructional technology, our professional learning, uh, as well as our capital projects team, uh, to ensure that we're highlighting the features of the technology, uh, so that teachers can experience what that looks like, uh, and feel more confident in leveraging that um, effectively. But at the end of the day, let me just say that the principal is the instructional leader of the school and the principal has to feel empowered and knowledgeable enough to guide teachers and encourage teachers to use that technology. So we are we are a support mechanism. Um we cannot we don't monitor the day-to-day instruction of a school. The school leaders do that and the school leaders too are
118uh engaged in that professional development opportunity. Teachers would tell, "Oh, I forgot my lanyard at home." Well, if you if you forgot your lanyard at home, you don't have audio enhancement that day in your classroom. So, I can see what you're saying. The principal would have to uh kind of monitor that to be sure that happens. Any other Any other discussion? There being none all in favor. All right. Thank you. The next item is item is east plus4 budget amendment. Um, just for the revenue portion, his plus four proceeds are expected to meet the collections threshold that was set by the E4 referendum in the second quarter of 2025 and proceeds are projected to end June 30th, 2025. Subsequently, a budget amendment to East 4 is now requested by operations to adjust the budgeted revenue
119as currently projected. Thus be resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board approve the budget amendment to reflect the revenue budget for east plots 4 as currently projected. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? There being no discussion. All in favor? All right. Thank you all. Resolution to approve local's facility plan. Under Georgia law, school districts are required to complete a comprehensive educational facility survey and submit a new facility plan to the Department of Education for approval every 5 years. The district's current local facility plan will expire on June 30th, 2025. The next local facility plan with a 5-year FTE projection period from July 1st, 2024 through June 30th, 2029 has been completed in accordance with the statemandated procedures. The plan identifies all needs to safely house students in an atmosphere that supports the instructional
120programs of the district. In addition, the plan includes the priority order of school projects, a comprehensive facility survey team completed a review of the plan on April 21st, 2025, and recommend recommended acceptance of the proposed curriculum, grade distribution, and facility needs for all schools as presented in the plan. The plan also includes total facility needs of $360,296,857 44 42,683728 of state entitlements and $317,613,129 of all local funding. A copy of the plan available for review in the board of education office is available in order to submit the new 5-year facilities plan to the state board of education for approval by June 30th, 2025. The attached resolution is presented for board approval at this time. Thus, be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board adopt the attached resolution to approve the five-year
121new 5-year local facilities plan and request that it be submitted to the state board of education for approval. Been moved. Uh, it's been moved by um Miss Kowalsski, seconded by Miss Hall. Any any discussion? Right. There being no discussion, all in favor. Right. All opposed. All abstaining. Okay. I'm sorry. The the local facility plan. We can send it to you. It's essentially the East. That's what I was thinking. Yeah, but we we can get it. We voted on it. Okay. All right. Okay. Sorry. What's next? All right. Uh, next we have a appearances from our public. Um, uh, each of you will have three minutes and, uh, we thank you for signing up. Uh, we we we want to hear from you. Uh, first we have, uh, Desiree Bender. Okay. Okay. Uh, Angelisa Bryant. Good
122afternoon to Dr. Watts, President Moss, and to all board members. Last month, I spoke about House Bill 1178 signed by Governor Brian Kimp. We have 17 schools on low performance list. I listened last month to a teacher addressing his needs to be heard to help our students increase their scores. I listened to a community leader inform us that our students can learn, poor kids can learn. I listened to a director give a report of why our scores are low. Urban areas, urban kids. On April the 25th, 2025, I visited one of your local schools. I watch a diverse group of students address mostly the same concerns. On that day, I was informed your policy list for parents visit is in the control of the school's leader. I was told some schools only allow 15 minutes
123a day for parents to visit. Some allow 1 hour. question. Why are there not signs posted that parents can only visit a school for one hour or only 15 minutes? Lastly, I am concerned all the students observe a classmate begging to go to the principal's lunching and asking for a 90 above grade or above grade. My concern the adults did not notice what the child wrote. Our children are the reason we all are here. We are listening. But are we hearing? Our students, our teachers, our parents, our community leaders. We are here to make a change. I beg you board. I beg you to please listen. I've been here three or four times. I see community leaders. He is excellent. He's here doing research. He's not an urban kid. But he's telling you that 80%
124our students can learn that are poor. I was shocked when she said urban kids cannot learn. Urban kids can learn because I am an urban kid from Ka height under the leadership of Dr. Joe Buck when I became Miss Armstrong. I am an urban kid of South all brown, Mrs. Helen Fletcher that allowed me to try. I beg you to help. Thank you. Thank you. Malik Jones. Malik Jones, Lauren War, Lauren War, Rick Rooney, President Boss, Superintendent Watts, board members, Uh this is the end of the school year coming up. I'd like to do a little literacy review. You know that's my favorite subject, right? Uh a little more than two years ago, Dr. Watts arrived in town and declared literacy as our northstar. That began a big change. We got rid of the discredited
125uh teaching based on balanced literacy and began to implement the science of reading. Miss Sherry Goldman was put in place as our chief literacy officer. effectiveness officer and she and her team have done a great job. Uh the board made major investments. You uh invested in letters training the science of reading for all our teachers. You invested in a new curriculum based on the science of reading for all our students. Earlier this year, Miss Goldman made a presentation to the academic uh effectiveness council uh where she reviewed the progress on literacy. There were very promising results early but uh solid progress in all areas. It's a lot to be done. Last month, Dr. Watts proposed two pilot projects for next year. One for high dosage tutoring, one for leadership development in the low performing schools.
126Those are very important. So, we're on the right track. We're off to a good start. It reminded me as I was thinking about this of a quote from Winston Churchill. In the early part of World War II, uh Britain was getting smashed by Germany. They had a victory where they overcame the Nazis. And uh he spoke to the nation. He said, "This is not the beginning of the end. This is the end of the beginning." And I think that's very appropriate for where we are on the war on illiteracy. We're at the end of the beginning. So to expand on that metaphor a little bit, I'd like to suggest that the district open a second front in the war on illiteracy. As I've mentioned several time over the last couple years, we have 10,000 students
127in our school districts, grade four through 12, who couldn't read at grade level when they left third grade. Last month, I gave you a report on the implications of that. both the human cost to those kids and the financial cost to taxpayers. We need to do something. We need to start a second front. It's going to be complex because it's not as easy as dealing with kids in the K through3 space. So far, we put all our money on the K through three space, which is appropriate because if we don't win there, we don't win. But we've got these other kids. And to think of 10,000's lives being lost, that human cost is just too much to bear. And to think of the four billion dollars we're going to put on taxpayers plates, that's too
128much also. So we have to start a second front. Uh I have some ideas about this. I'm sure I'm out of time, so I won't tell you them now, but I will send them to Dr. Watts uh for her and her team to review. But I encourage you really focus on this. This is the this is the next place we need to be. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh Mr. Jamal Toué. Greetings to our representatives to the president and to Dr. Watts. Uh I'm here as a citizen and I have to go back in time. the iconic historian, preservationist, and civil rights leader WW Law shared with some of us decades ago that it was a swimming pool that was created for Caucasian children in the city of Savannah. And he then remarked, he
129said that for African-American children, there was a swimming hole dug out for them and that they were charged a nickel to swim in the swimming hole. And I went to Dr. Mr. Law about that and I inquired about I said, "Mr. law. You discussed the swimming hole being dug out for African-Americans. Where was the swimming hole? And we happened to be in Law Grove Cemetery. And Mr. Law said nothing to me, but he continued to motion his arm. And I looked at Mr. Law finally hit me. Wait a minute. Tomkin swimming pool. That was the swimming hole. And so we saw disparities happen again going back to the first half of the 20th century in Chattam County. And then also what happened as from a alumni of St. P the 10th Catholic school who now
130that's the site for the Savannah Classical Academy. She then shared with me when I brought this information up. She said, "Jamal," she said, "I remember the drainage hole that put the water inside the swimming hole and we had dirt at the bottom of the swimming hole." She remembered that. But not only that, in the first part of 20th century, also the school board had a book tax that African-Americans had to pay and Caucasian parents had to pay. But what happened was that African-American children did not get books, but their parents still had to pay the book tax. In addition, the schools on the east side, East Broad Street schools, the African-American children had to go because they were overcrowded. They had to go to school. Some were designated to go to school Monday, Wednesday, and
131Friday. Others had to go on Tuesday and Thursdays. We saw disparity. And so right now we look at this institution, this organizational body that is holistic that now we now pondering some things right now where we will not be holistic about we're not looking at saying having that say systemic Jim Crowism, segregation come about. So we're imploring you all with regards to again the knowledge that you all have do not close swimming pools yet because we understand some of us will go to our chairman Chester Ellis because we have the contact with him and also to our city manager Jay Melton so we can work this out because and what was so fitting for me when I saw that young people from Windsor Forest High School here because what happened there were young people who
132were lifeguards who worked at the swimming pools here in Chattam County who went on to Morehouse College on a swimming scholarship. We have the ability to touch lives right now. And let not the slings and arrows of our f outrageous fortune be damaged by us right now. Do not let the adults go and squander the opportunity for young pe young people here in this county. We have the power. The adults are the ones who can control the future for young people and it's our responsibility and we ask that you not make any statement. have wholeness and obeyance and let us go to the county and the city to address this also so that it addressed holistically. Thank you. Thank you. Um so I'm going to call again for Desiree Bender. Are you Desiree Bender? Okay.
133Um Lauren War. Are you Lauren? Okay. You have three minutes. Hi. Uh, first, thank you so much for the opportunity to address you all today. I apologize in advance for any uh mistakes. I am terribly nervous. Uh my name is Lauren Wara and I am a teacher at West Chadam Middle School. I am here today not only for myself but on behalf of many dedicated educators who feel silenced, those who love their students fiercely but do not feel safe or supported enough to speak out publicly. I have already taken these issues up through the chain of command, but no meaningful effort has been made to address them as of yet. As a result, I felt compelled to bring them to you today. West Chadam Middle School is struggling under our current principal, Dr. Donna Jones's
134leadership. Teachers and staff are severely burnt out and morale is nearly non-existent. Many teachers in our building, myself included, have lost much of the joy we formerly found in teaching. We are overwhelmed because we are trying to carry the full weight of discipline, stability, and safety without the foundational support of strong leadership. We are losing instructional time. We are losing control of our classrooms. And we are losing hope. For perspective, there have been 242 disciplinary referrals processed this school year, and we expect more before the year is done. This number does not even begin to reflect the referrals teachers no longer bother to write because they've lost faith that anything will come of them. This lack of consequences emboldens students to misbehave, disrupting the learning environment and preventing other students from receiving the education they're
135entitled to. As educators, we're often told one key element of teaching is building relationships. Students will work harder, behave better, and learn more when they have an affinity for and a relationship with the teacher. Adults aren't so different. We go the extra mile for those and the next chapter of their careers. Our school is not a training ground. We end the next chapter of their careers. Our school is not a training ground. We need a strong veteran leader who knows how to work with their staff and lean on them when necessary. Someone who leads with integrity, compassion, and strength. Who shows genuine care for the students. who sees teachers as partners, not subordinates, and who inspires trust and a spirit of community and collaboration. This isn't about one leader's learning curve. It is about the
136long-term health of a school community that deserves better. Our students and staff deserve, pardon, deserve a school environment that is peaceful, productive, and conducive to growth and learning. We had it before, and we believe that with your help, we can have it again. Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes, Mr. Moss. Can we clarify what we have received? Are these statements from three individuals in addition to Miss Wara or do they include a statement? She's she's calling. Thank you. Thank you. All right. I will now ex I will now accept a motion to adjurnn. Moved. Moved and seconded. All in favor? Mrs. Smith, Miss Are you in favor? Okay. Okay. All right. All right. We're journed. Thank you. And highly favored. Second. You favor.