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Board approves Reach Public Schools charter with conditions for launch in 2026–27
Summary
The Savannah Chatham County Board of Education voted to approve a five-year charter contract for Reach Public Schools, a startup charter planned to open in the 2026–27 school year, while attaching conditions around academic monitoring, board development and collaboration with district departments.
The Savannah Chatham County Board of Education voted Aug. 13 to approve a five-year charter contract for Reach Public Schools, a proposed startup charter scheduled to open in the 2026–27 school year. The approval followed a staff recommendation and a review by the district's Charter Review Committee.
The district's deputy superintendent reported that the committee recommended approval but also identified pre-launch conditions, including strengthening internal academic monitoring systems, submitting a time‑bound board development and training plan, establishing proactive collaboration with district departments on safety and student support, and closely monitoring enrollment and staffing to support stable growth. Those conditions were incorporated into the motion presented to the board.
Board members voiced general support for the petition and emphasized both the opportunity and the responsibilities that accompany a charter start. "Please use our board and our staff as a resource," said Mr. Kachmar, a board member, adding that operating what is written on paper is the hard part and urging the petitioners to learn from existing charters. Dr. Brinkman said she supported the approval and urged the new school to treat the charter as part of the public school system: "There are all of our children, Savannah Chatham County," she said.
Board members also asked procedural and governance questions. One board member noted the petition's language allowing board members to be dismissed "without cause" and asked the petitioners to clarify the rationale for that clause. Petitioners identified a potential facility location in an existing building previously used by a higher-education institution in the eastside area of the county, which staff said was part of the petition materials.
Action taken: The board moved and seconded a resolution to approve Reach Public Schools for a five‑year charter beginning in the 2026–27 school year with the staff-recommended conditions. The board voted to approve the charter.
Why it matters: The charter is intended to serve a population of students described in the petition as having high needs and to use nontraditional, flexible scheduling and individualized graduation planning. The board attached conditions to help align the startup with district performance expectations and to require early board development and explicit collaboration on safety and student supports.
What’s next: The petitioners and district staff will proceed with the conditions outlined by the charter review committee and the board prior to the school’s launch. The board and staff recommended ongoing communication during the planning and early implementation phases to support the charter's stability.
