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Board authorizes up to $1.41 million contract for external financial assessment and implementation support
Summary
The board approved a contract with Alvarez & Marsal for a districtwide financial assessment and implementation support, authorizing up to $1,410,000 and allowing early termination by the superintendent if contract goals are met.
The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education on Nov. 5 approved contracting Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services LLC to conduct a comprehensive financial assessment and to provide implementation and project-management support. The board amended the staff'recommended funding and authorized the superintendent to enter a contract for up to $1,410,000.
District staff said the engagement will strengthen financial leadership, develop an integrated multi-year financial model, improve budgeting processes (including preparation to use a modified zero-based budgeting approach for FY 2026'27), and remediate ERP and process gaps in Tyler Munis and related systems. The firm will provide executive-level leadership support, lead a project-management office for the improvement work, and deliver training and system remediation through the 2025'26 school year.
Board discussion acknowledged the dollar amount'$1.41 million'as significant but framed it as a one-time investment to improve financial controls, transparency and long-term savings. The amendment increasing authorization from the original $1,360,000 to $1,410,000 was proposed by a board member to allow up to $50,000 for travel and incidental costs and to grant the superintendent authority to terminate early if objectives are met.
The resolution included a budget transfer from general-fund balance to the professional-services account to fund the contract. Superintendent Denise Watts and board members described the work as necessary to realign district finances, improve accountability and prepare the district for constrained long-term resources.
The motion to approve the contract as amended passed on a board vote; staff will return with contract details and implementation milestones.
