Savannah-Chatham school board approves $2.4 million transfer for Highlands stadium, ratifies furniture contracts and a Windsor Forest design change order

The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education on Jan. 14 approved a $2.4 million budget transfer to expand the Highlands High School athletic complex, ratified two contract extensions for districtwide furniture purchases and approved a design change order for the Windsor Forest High School replacement project.

Board members voted to move $2,400,000 from Fund 308 (unallocated) to create a Highlands High School Complex expansion account to add seating capacity to host GHSA 4A playoff games, two field houses, additional restrooms, team rooms and a larger press box. "The transfer is coming from fund 308 unallocated in the amount of $2,400,000 to create an Highlands High School Complex expansion account line," a staff presenter said while describing the item to the board.

The board also ratified a prior one-year contract extension for bid C19-5 (districtwide furniture, fixtures and equipment) covering April 16, 2023, through April 15, 2024, with expenditures totaling $1,120,484 and approved a second one-year extension from April 16, 2024, through April 15, 2025, with Georgia Specialty Equipment LLC and Mason Incorporated at an estimated cost not to exceed $700,000. A board member noted one vendor is locally based and praised that local option for repairs and service.

On the Windsor Forest High School replacement project, the board approved change order No. 2 to Hudson Gay, Bell & DeJong International Inc., increasing design-services costs. The board packet shows the original award under RFQ C18-05 at $2,641,983 and an earlier change order of $151,500 that had increased the contract to $2,793,483. Staff recommended approval of change order No. 2 in the amount included in the board materials.

The board discussed two policy items in the board matters section. Board policy GBKA (professional personnel layoff) was returned for administrative regulation revisions after the board attorney advised clarifying that elimination of an entire program is not considered a reduction in force under state statute; the board took no formal action and will receive revised language later. A proposed revision to policy DCA (fiscal goals and objectives) was presented as a first reader; the superintendent and the chief financial officer said they would revise wording to make clearer when board approval is required for mid-year budget adjustments.

Chief Financial Officer Larry Jackson told the board the DCA language "is not clear the way we have it now" and pledged to provide a clearer draft at second reading. The DCA item returns as a second reader at the February meeting.

The board also conducted its annual election of officers and announced committee assignments; the slate of officers and committee chairs were approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Highlands High School athletic complex — Motion to transfer $2,400,000 from Fund 308 (unallocated) to create the Highlands High School Complex expansion account. Mover: Sean Katchmar. Second: Dr. Tonya Howard Hall. Outcome: Approved (voice vote; board recorded "Aye").

- Bid C19-5 districtwide furniture, fixtures and equipment — Ratification of April 16, 2023–April 15, 2024 extension (expenditures $1,120,484) and approval of April 16, 2024–April 15, 2025 extension with Georgia Specialty Equipment LLC and Mason Incorporated (estimated not to exceed $700,000). Mover: not specified in transcript. Second: not specified. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

- Windsor Forest High School replacement project — Approval of change order No. 2 to Hudson Gay, Bell & DeJong International Inc., with added design costs allocated from the project budget (no budget transfer required). Mover: not specified in transcript. Second: not specified. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

What it means

The Highlands transfer creates a dedicated account to expand spectator and team facilities so the campus can host larger GHSA postseason events. The furniture approvals set contract ceilings the district may spend through its departmental purchase processes. The Windsor Forest change order increases the professional design budget for a major capital replacement project; staff said funding is available within the project budget so no additional transfer was required.

The board emphasized that the DCA budget-language changes are intended to make clear when significant mid-year reductions or transfers must return to the board for approval. The board did not adopt any final language for GBKA during the meeting and requested follow-up regulatory edits and guidance from GSBA and the board attorney.

The meeting packet and board materials list RFQ C18-05 and bid C19-5 as the procurement references for the Windsor Forest and furniture items, respectively. The board president said the items had been recommended by the superintendent and moved by board members for approval. The formal vote counts were recorded as voice votes in the meeting transcript with "Aye" responses; no roll-call tallies with individual member votes were contained in the transcript.