SCCPSS: Passport to Excellence Adjustments

David Fields is giving the school board the information they asked for.  The majority of the population for Savannah-Chatham Schools is a minority.  Fields says it’s a high poverty district with 70% of the students meeting the requirements for free or reduced lunch.  At 75% of the schools, the majority of the population meets the requirements for the free/reduced lunch program.  Fields says “we will always have a majority minority,“

District 5’s Irene Hines doesn’t understand why race has to be a factor.  Others argued it’s not and Greg Sapp, of district 4, says this is a long range plan to create a school district of excellence. 

When looking at the number of students in elementary schools compared to high schools, district 8’s Ruby Jones suggested using money that was designated to build a new high school in the western part of the county to renovate the old DeRenne School to be used as a new Hodge Elementary School.  Under the ESPLOST referrendum, tax payers voted on specific projects like a new westside high school, new Pulaski Elementary School, Oglethorpe Charter and Beach High School.  The money designated for specific projects cannot be used to fund others.  If a project like rennovating the old DeRenne building were decided upon, that money would have to come from the district’s budget. 

Julie Gerbsch of district 7 questioned the low capacity at Savannah Arts Academy.  There is classroom space for 700 students.  When the school was transformed from Savannah High to Savannah Arts Academy, walls were taken out and other rennovations were made to accommodate a performing arts school and that more space is needed for some of the programs so that’s why walls were removed.  SAA is the only school in the district with these types of specific space accommodations. 

Dr. Lockamy says there has to be a time when you vote for change.  He says if the board does not vote on the Passport to Excellence next week, he will postpone the vote until January.  He says it becomes one board member wants one thing, one board member wants another thing and it is a puzzle.  Lockamy says first and foremost is the students.  He says he’s giving the board a plan that he thinks will work for our school district. 

Talk continues about looking at Bartlett and Shuman Middle Schools to be useds as a middle grades performing arts school.

District 2’s Floyd Adams says “we need to get rid of all specialty programs at all schools…and that we have to develop a system where everyone feels like they’re getting a bonafide education,“

District 1’s Susu Cox says “children come from all backgrounds.  I don’t want this to be a cookie cutter district,“ and that all genders, socieoeconomic groups and races have all taken advantage of the programs offered.

Adams says not all groups know how to work the system so that they can take advantage of the programs offered across the district.

The board also discussed where a new Gadsden Elementary would be built or if it was possible to get approval from the state to build on the same site.  Dr. Lockamy says the state will say no. 

School board is supposed to vote on the plan next Wednesday.  Susu Cox says she won’t vote on the plan next week if there are no changes made to the alterations at Heard Elementary School.  Dr. Lockamy says the final recommendations will be given to the board on Friday.

“There will be some who will not be happy when the final recommendation is made,“ says Dr. Lockamy.  “There will be specialty programs where there is room.“