Board authorizes $8.41 million early work at Georgetown K‑8; staff outlines SPLOST project schedule and capacity limits

The Savannah‑Chatham County Board of Public Education authorized up to $8,413,223 for construction startup costs and long‑lead purchases for the Georgetown K‑8 project at the June 4 meeting, approving early‑package work to buy long‑lead materials, start demolition and order equipment.

Facilities staff presented a multi‑project update that covered Windsor Forest High School, Bloomingdale, DEHS athletic complex, Henderson, J.G. Smith, Montgomery and others. Staff said many projects are on track for August occupancy or fall completion and that furniture and finishes are being installed at several campuses. Islands High School expansion was bid under budget and will be awarded at a future meeting, staff said.

Board members used the facilities briefing to press for clarity about project definitions (for instance, the distinction between a practice field and a full athletic complex), site constraints (wetlands at Woodville‑Tompkins were cited as a reason previous athletic work was postponed) and timing concerns. Several trustees urged the district to consider outsourcing some program management or bringing on additional project managers to accelerate work, but staff cautioned that hiring is constrained by market pay rates and workforce availability and that outsourcing can reduce owner control.

The Georgetown authorization was presented as a necessary step to secure long‑lead items and start demolition; the board approved the expenditure for the early package and staff will return with guaranteed maximum price details where required. Trustees asked staff to provide clearer project sheets for future packages showing FTE assumptions, square footage and the stage of design before projects move to bid.