Is your school zone changing? New facilities plan to impact hundreds of Savannah students (2024)

“This does not impact every student,” explained Superintendent Denise Watts, Ed.D., of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) Long-Range Facilities Plan.

According to SCCPSS, the plan "calls for the shifting of attendance zone boundaries for a number of schools, as well as the closure of two schools and repurposing of those facilities. The changes will also better align school attendance boundaries to improve transportation efficiencies and reduce the distances many students currently travel to school.”

In other words, hundreds of students' and families' assigned schools will change.

“This does not impact every school or every family,” Watts continued while speaking at a press conference on Nov. 6, at the Whitney Administrative Complex, 2 Laura Ave. She introduced the plan at the Nov. 1 School Board Informal Session, and the plan will be voted on at the next board meeting on Dec. 6. She stressed that stakeholders should understand that only certain groups of families will be affected by shifting facilities based on where they live. SCCPSS.com has a dedicated Family Planning Guide available for review online.

Watts reiterated that she and district leaders understand that changes to students’ school assignments can have an emotional toll on students, families and staff. To mitigate that toll and prevent misinformation, she will be holding parent planning meeting dates for affected schools.

Watts also reemphasized that the district does not plan to reduce staff. She did say that by closing certain facilities the district seeks to lessen, “duplication of staff members, but no teacher or principal or staff member will lose a job. We will fill vacancies with existing staff.”

SCCPSS parent planning meeting dates

Savannah-Chatham School Board:November meeting unveils big changes for district

Is your school zone changing? New facilities plan to impact hundreds of Savannah students (2)

What school facilities are affected in the plan?

At the heart of the plan are seven recommendations. Within the recommendations are detailed descriptions of how schools will be affected down to the numbers of students being shifted among schools to maximize realignment of zones. Maps for Realigned Attendance Zones became available this week, as well. Families within the impacted schools are encouraged to review this street-level impact data.

Watts assured that the Choice Program will be minimally affected. “So that in the event where there are changes to a school in which students are afforded an opportunity to be in the Choice Program, we will look at how we implement that program in the new site. Or, those students could also have the potential to stay in the existing site.”

She said the plan’s recommendations provide solutions for reducing capacity at the overused schools by right-sizing enrollments, improving safety and transportation routing, as well as drawing “more logical attendance zones. It also provides for a swing space so that when we are renovating a site, we do not have to leave students and teachers on that particular site.”

She acknowledged there will be pros and cons to any plan the district presents, but cited that implementation was long overdue. A top benefit touted is approximately $3.5 million in cost savings. A full cost analysis is still underway.

“Obviously, in rolling out this plan, we will also have to assume some costs,” she said. The district aims to have the cost analysis complete before the board’s vote in December.

Not all recommendations are based on rezoning needs

One plan recommendation has to do with a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) directive. Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Bernadette Ball-Oliver clarified that “between 50-60 K-8 students” would be moved from the Coastal Georgia Comprehensive Academy (CGCA), 2001 Cynthia St., to Isle of Hope K-8, 100 Parkersburg Road. The CGCA serves students with “severe emotional/behavioral disorders, as well as students with moderate to severe autism.”

The number of students was not included in the presentation shared at last week’s school board meeting. According to the plan, Isle of Hope “has been historically underutilized, with a capacity of 850 students but currently enrolling only 605. Funds will be budgeted to make any modifications to the site needed to serve the needs of this student population.”

The DOJ directive stems from a Federal lawsuit originally filed in 2016. That DOJ suit alleged “the State of Georgia, discriminates against thousands of public school students with behavior-related disabilities by unnecessarily segregating them, or by placing them at serious risk of such segregation, in a separate and unequal educational program known as the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support Program (GNETS).”

A district representative stated that SCCPSS had already moved CGCA's high school students several years ago to the new Herschel V. Jenkins High School, 1800 E. DeRenne Ave.

When asked if the district had looked to other districts in the state and country as examples on how to manage attendance zone realignment, Watts said, “Not only have I spoken to other districts, I've actually lived this in two other districts myself having closed 10 schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools…also in Houston Independent School District, and I think many of the things that we are encountering right now are typical reactions and responses.”

She conceded that continued communication with students and parents is paramount. She specifically highlighted a need to carefully communicate with the English speakers of other languages (ESOL) and immigrant community members who will be affected by these changes.

She attributed the rise in the ESOL population to two main factors: a natural trend of the country becoming more diverse and the industry growth in the Savannah area, particularly the Hyundai plant.

She said the plan does not actually adequately support the overall growth that West Chatham is seeing. “We need a school, schools, in that area today. The plan seeks to alleviate some of the growth so that it will give us time to prepare as the growth continues.”

Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at jschwartzburt@gannett.com.

Is your school zone changing? New facilities plan to impact hundreds of Savannah students (2024)

References

Top Articles
Vitale's Clinton Menu
Why London's Underground Is Full of Secrets
Consignment Shops Milford Ct
Sams Gurnee Gas Price
Burkes Outlet Credit Card Sign In
Nene25 Sports
The Menu Showtimes Near Regal Edwards Ontario Mountain Village
Coverwood Terriers For Sale
Use Caution: Herds of wild horses escaping Davis Fire spotted evacuating up Geiger Grade
Vivek Flowers Chantilly
Ms Ortencia Alcantara Instagram
Realidades 2 Capitulo 2B Answers
Xenia Canary Dragon Age Origins
7 Best Character Builds In Nioh 2
La Qua Brothers Funeral Home
Topeka Pets Craigslist
Randolph Leader Obits
Nearest Walmart Address
SpaceX Polaris Dawn spacewalk - latest: 'It's gorgeous' - billionaire Jared Isaacman's awed reaction as he steps out of capsule on historic spacewalk
Bunni.soph
Mcallen Craiglist
Minneapolis, MN Real Estate & Homes for Sale | realtor.com®
Devotion Showtimes Near Regency Towngate 8
Wsbtv Traffic Map
Mcclure Nba Dfs
Vineland Daily Journal Obits
Mercedes E-Klasse Rembekrachtigers voorraad | Onderdelenlijn.nl
Cardaras Logan Ohio
Hose Woe Crossword Clue
Black Boobs Oiled
R/Maddenultimateteam
Lvc Final Exam Schedule
Nebraska volleyball's Harper Murray trying to regain trust, recapture love
Uhauldealer.com Login Page
Wbap Iheart
Pokemon TCG: Best Japanese Card Sets
Journal articles: 'New York (State). First Congregational Church' – Grafiati
Speedstepper
We Tested and Found The Best Weed Killers to Banish Weeds for Good
454 Cubic Inches To Litres
'I want to be the oldest Miss Universe winner - at 31'
Little League Coach Daily Themed Crossword
Alt J Artist Presale Code
The Lobby Fizeaustraat | Restaurant & Bar in Amsterdam-Oost
Solar Smash Unblocked Wtf
450 Miles Away From Me
Cb2 South Coast Plaza
Adda Darts
Hyundai Elantra - modele, dane, silniki, testy
Tighe Hamilton Hudson Ma Obituary
Remembering the life of Jeff Hewson.
Winta Zesu Net Worth
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 5703

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.