Board declines settlement recommendation in Wilder lawsuit after brief vote

The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education on Sept. 2 considered a superintendent recommendation to authorize settlement of claims in federal court in a case identified in the meeting as Sheila Garcia Wilder v. Savannah Chatham County Public School District (United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, case number referenced by staff).

The superintendent recommended board authorization “to direct legal counsel to take all steps necessary and proper to effectuate and finalize the approved settlement with appropriate settlement documents and the plaintiff’s dismissal of the pending lawsuit,” according to the meeting presentation.

Board action A motion to accept the settlement was moved and seconded and put to a voice/hand-raise vote. According to the meeting record, the chair called for those in favor and then for those opposed. The chair declared the motion did not pass (the vote “does not carry”), and the item therefore failed to authorize the settlement as presented.

Notes The meeting transcript does not record the vote tally or the names of the motion mover or seconder. The superintendent and staff were authorized in the staff memo to proceed with settlement if the board had approved; because the motion failed, no authorization was granted at this meeting.

Next steps Staff did not state an immediate follow-up action on the public record other than recording the vote outcome. The superintendent and legal counsel may return with alternative recommendations or further information at a future meeting.