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Savannah-Chatham board adopts 2025-26 school calendar after debate over remote learning and make-up days
Summary
After extended discussion about remote learning days, make-up options and the final teacher workday, the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education voted Feb. 5 to approve the 2025-26 academic calendar.
The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education on Feb. 5 approved the district's academic calendar for the 2025'26 school year after prolonged debate over remote learning days, where to place make-up days and how to treat the final staff planning day for teachers.
The vote at the Whitney Building followed more than an hour of discussion among board members and Superintendent Denise Watts about the trade-offs between preserving 180 instructional days and using remote or waiver options to handle weather-related and other closures.
Board members said the calendar keeps the district at 180 instructional days while adding 10 staff planning days, five pre-planning days, two post-planning days and several designated remote learning days, including one in November aligned with election day. Superintendent Denise Watts told the board she wants to "reimagine" remote learning days and said, "I am acutely aware of the challenges and the opportunities that remote learning brings." She said the district will further define how those days are used.
Board member Miss Hall moved an amendment to remove language in the resolution that would have authorized district staff to develop two additional future calendars under the same framework; the amendment passed and the board then approved only the 2025'26 calendar. Dr. Ringman moved the final adoption; Miss Hall seconded the motion.
Board members pressed administrators on specific elements of the calendar: Miss Grabowski and others asked about compensation and expectations for staff who cover classes when substitutes are unavailable; district staff replied that short-term coverage is typically part of a teacher's normal responsibilities, entire-period coverage may qualify for supplemental pay, and long-term assignments use extended day agreements. Dr. Watts said administrators are considering allowing teachers flexibility to complete the last staff planning day remotely if they document their work, citing the district's desire to offer more flexible work arrangements.
The board also discussed how the district's Strategic Waiver (sometimes called the "SWISS" waiver) with the Georgia Department of Education affects calendar choices. Assistant staff explained the district remains subject to the state's 180-day statutory requirement unless and until the board votes to use the waiver for a given year; any broad use of the waiver would be brought before the board.
Why it matters: Calendar decisions affect families, staff schedules, testing windows and extracurricular events such as graduations. Board members said they will continue to refine implementation details, including how remote days are communicated and how make-up days will be chosen if storms or other closures reduce instructional time.
The board approved the calendar by voice vote after the amendment; members did not record a roll-call tally in the public minutes provided in the meeting transcript. The superintendent and staff said they will return with any clarifications about implementation and with additional calendar-related materials as needed.
