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Savannah‑Chatham County leaders warn federal certification could put some grants at risk
Summary
District leaders told the board April 16 that a federally required certification tied to civil‑rights conditions could force the district to alter or stop programs and—if violations are found—risk withholding or repayment of federal funds.
At a board budget workshop on April 16, district leaders told the Savannah‑Chatham County Public School System board that a recently emphasized federal certification tied to civil‑rights rules requires district sign‑off by April 22 and could affect program funding.
"We have been given a directive to sign off on certification, that we are complying with the federal civil rights laws," Dr. Watts said, describing a certification linked to a court matter she called the "Harvard case." "If we are in violation, we could risk ending our funding and the penalty would be also to go back three years of funding."
The district described the certification as creating new legal uncertainty about whether certain programs, partners or practices that reference diversity, equity and inclusion could be deemed impermissible uses of federal funds. Finance and grants staff told the board some federal grants already are in flux: one Department of Defense world‑language grant was terminated for a single K‑8 position, and CARES/ESSER funding tied to COVID relief has expired.
Why this matters: the district said federal special‑revenue accounts together total more than $100 million this year and support Title I, special education, food services and other programs. District staff cautioned that if federal guidance is interpreted broadly, programs or partner contracts that mention equity could be flagged for noncompliance and potentially trigger withholding or repayment.
How the district is responding: staff said they are conducting a program‑level review of policies, contracts and spending to identify potential compliance risks and will seek more legal guidance. Mr. Butler and other finance staff described a matrix of grants classified by current risk status and possible adjustments for fiscal 2026 and 2027, including reallocating some federally funded positions to general‑fund vacancies if allowable by certification rules. "We are looking at all of our policies. We're looking at all of our practices, where we're spending our money, and we are trying to highlight places where we think this may be a violation or a risk for us, and then we'll have to make necessary adjustments," Dr. Watts said.
Board members and staff also asked for more training and legal expertise. "Training will set us nicely to do that," Dr. Watts said, noting a planned afternoon training and a follow‑up legal briefing for the board.
What remains uncertain: district officials said they do not yet have a definitive list of practices that would violate the certification and that federal authorities, courts or litigants would ultimately determine violations. Officials warned the board that potential remedies could be severe, including clawbacks to prior years, and that the district is preparing mitigation options in case funding is reduced.
Ending: Staff said they will return to the board with more detailed legal guidance and a grant‑by‑grant risk analysis. The district also plans an internal review and targeted briefings for employees and community stakeholders to explain implications if federal rules change.
