News Summary
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is preparing to recommend the REACH Public Schools charter proposal, marking the establishment of its first new charter school in a decade. Developed by Propel Charter Management Group, the petition for REACH has passed initial evaluations, with a school board review set for August 13. Amidst this, the district is also tackling pressing staffing and infrastructural issues, including a new contract for special education and HVAC system improvements.
Savannah, Georgia – The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is poised to recommend the establishment of its first new charter school in a decade. The proposed institution, known as REACH Public Schools, has submitted a petition to the district, with the school board set to review this recommendation at its upcoming meeting on Wednesday, August 13.
REACH Public Schools is being developed by Propel Charter Management Group, a California-based organization led by Superintendent Jessica Ray. The completion of REACH’s petition in March marks a significant step towards its approval. Propel aims to enhance both the educational delivery and financial management of the school through their expertise and local partnerships, which have been noted in the submitted petition.
In preparation to house the new school, Propel has identified a facility and is currently negotiating a lease. The organization will assume liability for the site until a Governing Board is formed. This board will consist of members who were previously associated with the Savannah Exploratory Academy, which faced challenges in its previous attempts to establish a charter school. Though the Savannah Exploratory Academy received approval from the Georgia State Charter School Commission in 2019, it ultimately did not open due to construction delays.
In response to a request for more detailed information regarding student enrollment and curriculum alignment with Georgia Standards of Excellence, the school district granted REACH a 90-day extension. The district’s recommendation for REACH’s charter was deemed “sufficient for recommendation” following the response to this request.
Aside from discussions surrounding REACH Public Schools, the school board will also address a $777,740 contract with Epic Special Education Staffing. This contract is aimed at filling vacancies for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, providing special education teachers and psychologists to address current staffing issues.
Vocational and developmental restructuring of autism services within the district has raised concerns among parents, particularly regarding the lack of their involvement in decision-making processes. The restructuring has highlighted the need for additional classroom teachers to support autism services, although nearly all positions were filled as the school year commenced on August 4.
Moreover, the district plans to seek nearly $2.4 million to fund Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) professional services. This funding will stem from vacant SLP account lines in the Specialized Learning program in an effort to address ongoing educational needs.
Infrastructure remains a significant challenge for the district, notably at Savannah Classical Academy where parents have expressed dissatisfaction over classroom temperatures. Complaints have been raised due to the poorly designed HVAC system, which has suffered from performance issues. This has led to parents indicating concerns over safety measures for students and staff productivity due to temperature regulation problems.
Voters in Chatham County recently approved funding for a new HVAC system for charter schools through the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) V, which is expected to total around $4.2 million. However, the district has yet to collect these funds; collection for ESPLOST V will begin only after the previous ESPLOST IV concludes.
In a further development, Savannah Classical Academy experienced a lockdown following a false alarm stemming from a 911 call related to a reported gun at the school. In this incident, the school efficiently practiced its lockdown procedures, thanks to prior drills and training with local law enforcement. The Savannah police are currently investigating the source of the call and noted that potential charges could be considered against the caller if they knowingly reported false information regarding a weapon.
This upcoming meeting on August 13 will be a crucial turning point for REACH Public Schools and address the pressing issues the district faces, highlighting the community’s ongoing commitment to improving educational infrastructure and services.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Savannah Now: New Charter School Proposal
- Wikipedia: Charter School
- WSAV: School Assault Incident
- Google Search: Savannah Schools
- Savannah Now: HVAC Issue at Savannah Classical Academy
- Google Scholar: Savannah Education
- WJCL: Savannah Classical Academy Lockdown
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education in the United States
- Savannah Now: Recap of First Day of School Year
- Google News: Savannah Charter Schools
Author: STAFF HERE SAVANNAH WRITER
SAVANNAH STAFF WRITER The SAVANNAH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESavannah.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Savannah, Chatham County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Savannah Music Festival, St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Savannah Jazz Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Coastal Empire, plus leading businesses in aerospace, education, and logistics that power the local economy such as Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Colonial Group. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HEREAugusta.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
