Savannah-Chatham County school leaders present districtwide strategic plan at summer leadership conference

At a summer leadership conference at the Savannah Convention Center, Ken Slatz, speaking for Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, described a new districtwide strategic plan that he said will create consistent daily learning expectations across all schools.

Slatz framed the effort as cultural and systemic, saying the plan "holds with it unlimited possibilities for students" and will provide "a consistent baseline opportunity where in every school every day learning expectations are clear and students can be successful." That, he said, is intended to produce "the most future ready kids."

The presentation brought together principals, assistant principals and district leadership. Slatz said the conference echoed a message he attributed to Dr. Watts: the plan should make it possible for "every student is to have a choice-filled life." He described the sessions as focused on building shared vision and operational steps for district leaders.

Slatz emphasized that high expectations for students come with support for teachers: "what we have been doing over the last few days is creating the conditions, providing the professional development, the learning, the opportunity for collaboration" so leaders and staff can implement the plan. He urged the district to move from decentralized approaches to a unified set of expectations, saying "we now have a plan of ways to get to the end goal as a unit."

The remarks were presented as instructional and organizational direction rather than a formal vote or new policy adoption. Slatz closed the remarks by identifying himself: "For SCCPS, I'm Ken Slatz."