[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6060320,"mediaKeyId","3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f","parentId",3292010,"title","District updates design guidelines, adds certification of compliance for design professionals","audioSeconds",215,"startMs",3034000,"endMs",3249000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f&start=3034&end=3249","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f/thumbnail_3034000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6060320/Georgia/District-updates-design-guidelines-adds-certification-of-compliance-for-design-professionals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060320-749c19ca5131fc1681ec19b9cec746bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659611&Signature=d8OEEsdr-bvVO-4Ir0BOYRxNfMtyyIsxdrCIfgCu1DSHCpRIhLpfOYcm-iS7tbhqAKWV59OG5wHKL7Jjh1L2nSYrS7kH31Wv1uU~7XPGrFQPml9hlWj-G0YgVo9hyUfVEQwvY5cK7DmnW6kvUP7ByHeHJ3kCWzlOfYJvFDYEdyhpu75j1v4csSpVQE8wq~pIThIXTAzCKzGKYRYhfJpndIyTbH2zOuzUj6HqSWpN9tcOsjr9kUbKPgxUN1GVLUADevG55Iz5eUGxw2sB50aKswyzZIMwqZU95GyK1S-GPGjnISvKKI1YvXVdaHsOCy3pX8cx3o-PJ~UBhnJy65tLFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-14T07:59:20Z","article","Savannah‑Chatham County Capital Improvements Committee members on May 2025 reviewed a revised set of district design guidelines (version 3) and a new certification form that staff will require of design consultants, Dr. David Scott said.

Dr. Scott, who has been leading the design‑guidelines effort, described the document as a resource “for multiple audiences” — not a code book — and said it is intended to be usable by contractors, architects, district departments and school staff. He told the committee the guidelines will apply to new construction, additions and renovations and that staff expect design professionals to certify compliance with district requirements when they are retained.

The presentation listed recent changes: expanded sections for thermal and moisture protection (roofs) and communications systems, a new Division 32 area for exterior site and perimeter work (including fences and gates), and an updated approach to stakeholder input. Dr. Scott credited district staff, maintenance, procurement, campus police and retired staff member Annette Wynne for contributions to the current draft. He said the guidelines are “a living document” and staff will continue to refine them as projects are delivered.

Committee members pressed for broader and structured input from end users — teachers, arts and music staff, athletics and school leaders — and for a scheduled review cycle so lessons from completed projects feed back into the standards. Miss Grabowski and others urged that the board establish core philosophy statements in the front of the guidelines (life‑cycle cost, sustainability, neighborhood integration) and vote those principles so they guide discretionary design decisions.

Staff said they will convene stakeholder working groups and incorporate targeted in‑school feedback during site design phases; they also noted a procedural change to require certification from design firms that they reviewed and will follow the district guidelines. No board vote took place; staff said they will return with updated guideline sections and a proposed review schedule for board consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Capital Improvement Committee Meeting - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff presented Version 3 (Jan. 2025) of the district’s design guidelines, described a new certification of compliance for design professionals and said the document will remain a living resource with stakeholder review cycles.","taxTitle","Savannah-Chatham County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15361,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6060325,"Capital projects team releases program schedule; West Chatham wetlands may reduce buildable acreage",2288,2087000,4375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f&start=2087&end=4375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f/thumbnail_2087000.jpg","/articles/6060325/Georgia/Capital-projects-team-releases-program-schedule-West-Chatham-wetlands-may-reduce-buildable-acreage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060325-aa82ff44e49cc8871b9a7dbdabf8039a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659611&Signature=iXaHcjs7nJh4c6yMjnC-cxMl94KIgI1ZpfXm7ZurdW4fD6cxVbCQkCVycvR-8lVVamtp5LtKy-oElveWsMp-iTIdyTME-2iAUoWmHX6QIqYyUNuJAbjYTTZ~iFWZ9uXD04Xfks3Tva-OHM3961mq5-Nvs6f0M4DCT2PBpR5mzhfJv61n1OEM7DqcaJ6k2yp5g7rFnR477OjADKFiJjCM1hAYHJSh5g3F5lkg57i6Ig9KbENJDrRE4Twt2nlttSplgxvI7a01vVBYiGyBdN31YVNXJWhAHqawa-Y1rwfivYwWHvy11HrYpzIWykG4XEvxNWui08W1azqgw5kK-0Vouw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Savannah‑Chatham County Capital Improvements Committee members on a May 2025 agenda received a program schedule update from district capital projects staff that maps how the district will complete E‑SPLOST 4 projects and phase work into E‑SPLOST 5, staff said.

Capital projects staff framed the schedule as a “road map” built around available proceeds, contractor resources and required swing space for relocations. Staff said those constraints — not only design — determine the order of projects and their timelines. The presentation covered current work (for example, Windsor Forest and Bloomingdale renovations), projects about to begin (JG Smith, modular classrooms, Islands Athletic Complex), and larger E‑5 priorities such as West Chatham High School and Bull Street redevelopment.

For West Chatham, staff reported the results of an initial wetland delineation that found substantial wetlands in the northern portions of the site and identified multiple wooded wetland patches. “Everything that’s north of those, that whole area up there, it’s all wooded, but it’s also all wetland,” the presenter said. Staff said the district will refine the delineation and determine how much contiguous, buildable acreage remains; initial estimates flagged a 3–4 acre patch of wetlands that could affect layout and mitigation needs.

Staff also summarized budgets and proceeds. A slide presented at the meeting projected a $481,300,000 budget for E‑SPLOST 4 when transfers and interest are included; staff discussed an E‑5 projected proceeds line (presented in the meeting as approximately $821,206,000) and said E‑5 project lists will be refined once proceeds and design professionals are identified.

Committee members asked about schedules for specific items the community has raised, including Savannah High’s baseball and softball fields and HVAC work at Savannah High; staff said the baseball/softball field project had not yet been pulled out as a separate schedule item but would be prioritized and added. Staff said design contracts and requests for qualifications will be issued soon for major E‑5 assignments and that the district is launching a new procurement platform (Bonfire) for RFQs and bids.

No formal votes were held. Staff said next steps include refining site delineations, finalizing RFP/RFQ language for design professionals, producing a more detailed schedule for prioritized projects (including Savannah High fields), and returning to the committee with updates and guaranteed maximum price (GMP) change orders where required.","District staff presented a multi‑year program schedule for E‑SPLOST projects, project updates and a wetland delineation that could cut usable acreage at the West Chatham high school site; staff cited an estimated E‑4 budget of $481.3 million and said E‑5 planning is underway.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6060329,"District outlines perimeter fencing, lockable gates and cameras to ‘layer’ school security",707,517000,1224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f&start=517&end=1224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292010-a5442426280fd8e6b36a5c6f6c0b352f/thumbnail_517000.jpg","/articles/6060329/Georgia/District-outlines-perimeter-fencing-lockable-gates-and-cameras-to-layer-school-security","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060329-297eb0d45a0f594308b199e808f8773b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659611&Signature=Qw0jwSFXJXwila5kPh4qztD7x9s2R8nufaJD3dSVRlnqqwl31U~AKpkAtWQkOJTNFS9WpnK1PHnIuFXLkuEKA3SS-eXxqaPJVBhJNmQN1pPeK5vrEwJoFi2qcys6MTc2YrWCq4AdseUJNEpmP7eSztIauLku7msCucsT8uzhwB9yG-pWDCjvaCeK2BbtHmEjuIEEvW9zZGsECgV2V1QSZcZGC9lZYA~n9MJVI2rg1ZyH~fnpfco~vUzx3PDqwPUyvnxwKm1~6Zr6~LqROSN8jVdILeN0tWXjlc7eFLF~oo0gHSQFIeFj-wQhoMm5LfaHAPuHdqB8~~y-rWmudfihmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Savannah-Chatham County Capital Improvements Committee members heard a presentation in May 2025 on plans to add perimeter fencing, lockable gates and video surveillance at prioritized schools as part of a “layered” security approach, district staff said.

The proposal, presented by district capital projects staff, would strengthen perimeters with fences 6 to 8 feet tall made of iron tubular steel or anti‑climb mesh, add lockable gates that remain closed during instructional hours and integrate gate access with building badge/buzz systems and camera analytics. The presenter said the approach follows national guidance, including the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS), and drew on the district’s 2018 Parsons study of facilities.

The emphasis on perimeter measures “is our first line of defense,” Chief Enoch said during the discussion. The presenter added that well‑maintained fencing “communicates that a school is actively being managed” and can deter trespass and transient encampments on unfenced campuses.

Staff described how gates would be managed to avoid disrupting school operations: gates would be equipped with access control so deliveries and late arrivals could be buzzed or badged through, and cameras tied to analytics would alert staff to after‑hours activity before an alarm is triggered. The presentation included examples of different fence treatments used on district campuses — from iron fencing with landscaped setbacks at White Bluff Elementary to a white picket–style fence that matches Isle of Hope Elementary’s neighborhood character — and said brick architectural elements can be added where appropriate to soften appearance.

Committee members pressed staff on prioritization and cost. Staff said they are focusing first on sites with past incidents or visible community dynamics that suggest a need for enhanced perimeter control; New Hampstead was cited as an example and Butler, Myers and Juliette Lowe Elementary were listed among earlier priority locations. On funding, staff noted that each recent E‑SPLOST (referred to repeatedly in the meeting as “East Bloss” or “E‑SpLoST”) included a line item for site improvements and that the last three E‑SPLOSTs have unallocated funds that could be applied. A staff member said a specific cost estimate for the four priority schools would be provided later by capital projects.

Several committee members urged that fence design be coordinated with broader site plans so schools remain welcoming to neighborhoods and so crosswalks and other pedestrian infrastructure align with gate locations. Miss Kubesti and others said older neighborhood schools need special attention to preserve civic presence and encourage “eyes on the street.” The presenter said design guidelines will be expanded to include more detailed fence and gate specifications, but that individual campuses require site‑specific solutions.

No formal action or vote was taken; staff said next steps include refining the design guidelines, completing site assessments and returning with cost estimates and draft plans for review.

A follow‑up from staff will report specific cost estimates, proposed funding sources and a recommended priority schedule for design and installation.","District capital projects and safety staff described a fencing-and-gates plan that emphasizes layered security, priority sites and design guidelines; funding could come from recent E-SPLOST proceeds but cost estimates were not yet provided.","actionData","errors"]

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District updates design guidelines, adds certification of compliance for design professionals

Capital projects team releases program schedule; West Chatham wetlands may reduce buildable acreage

District outlines perimeter fencing, lockable gates and cameras to ‘layer’ school security