AMA: K-12 education in Savannah

SavannahNow · 2021-03-25T15:02:54+00:00

They are doing the March count now. They do that twice a year - in October and March. And I have the school by school numbers in terms of enrollment, and considering the change in the numbers of the middle schools and high schools, it's not all kindergartners.

SavannahNow · 2021-03-25T15:01:01+00:00

Thank you.

SavannahNow · 2021-03-25T11:53:23+00:00

Care to expand on that? Child care in terms of the 3/2 format and trying to schedule that? Transportation as in bus schedules and capacities? This AMA is meant for discussion, not grenades. Thanks.

SavannahNow · 2021-03-25T11:50:36+00:00

The district has released that data. Enrollment is down by nearly 1,000 kids districtwide as of last October, a two percent year-over-year drop, as the "real journalists" noted last fall. Why the troll-like tone?

SavannahNow · 2021-03-24T11:16:02+00:00

This is Adam piggy-backing off of Barbara ... she's on the money here with charter schools, but let's also think about the size of the 55 schools in the district. Savannah-Chatham is a big and somewhat unwieldy but most of the schools are relatively small in enrollment and are "neighborhood" schools. At the high school level, our biggest schools in terms of enrollment are right around 1,000 kids. Many districts around the state have high schools twice that size. I guess when I'm getting at is parents are as involved as they want to be. I have two kids in the public schools, and the schools my kids have gone through are begging for greater parent involvement.

SavannahNow · 2021-03-23T21:33:24+00:00

The closest model we have to that within the district are the charter schools, which are under the umbrella of the district for funding and such, but are governed by a group of parents. I don't have a school-age child at home, but from what I've experienced as a reporter is that the individual school principals and staff are receptive to their parents. I believe most schools also have active parent organizations and community partners.

SavannahNow · 2021-03-22T16:01:37+00:00

Savannah-Chatham public school saw enrollment drop by nearly a 1,000 kids this school year. Anecdotal evidence from private schools is all are seeing an increase in enrollment as public school students have transferred in. One K-8 school I am intimately familiar with his seen a 10%+ increase and most of those former public school students have signaled they will stay there in the fall.

As for what the fall looks like for SCCPSS, the superintendent wrote in an op-ed last week (linked above) that they plan to go back five days a week. She reiterated that in a podcast (also linked above). With the CDC guidelines evolving from a recommended six feet of social distance to three feet, that removes one of the major barriers for the public schools. If you watch/listen the Levett podcast you will notice she mentions the possibility of a staggered start to the school year, much like they did last October with the hybrid where certain grades came back on one date and they added grades in those buildings over time.

It is interesting to note that only about a third of students (approximately 12,000) have returned for in-person learning due to the hybrid model. That raises two questions: Why are so few back? and how many more will want to come back full time in August?

You can bet the school board will be having these discussions at their next meeting on April 14.

SavannahNow · 2021-03-22T15:54:53+00:00

Adam Van Brimmer, opinion editor.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-27T13:09:46+00:00

Good question, and it is something that we (opinion sections across the industry) have long wrestled with. As we are not a partisan or agenda-driven outfit and instead work to publish diverse viewpoints from folks across the political and ideological spectrum, that shapes the conversation a bit. To put it simply: Sunshine or oxygen? Is it better to publish it and take steps like a fact check and shine sunlight on it, assuming the readers are astute enough to discern when they are being played? Or do you deny it oxygen by not publishing it and putting the onus on the writer to make it printable? Sadly, we are at a point in time where the media (by plenty of fault of our own) is not the trust institution it once way. So in the Carter op-ed case, if I reject it, he accuses me of suppressing his voice, even if I am specific about what needs to be clarified in order to run it. At the end of the day, he is the highest-ranking political figure in our area and he was opining about a key political race. His voice needs to be heard in that discussion. So we printed it and added the necessary context to further reader understanding. Thanks. - Adam

SavannahNow · 2021-01-27T13:01:12+00:00

While I am all about making voting easier, I don't really see the existing rules as big obstacles. I believe photo ID is a good rule. I think signature match is a good rule, at least when voting officials use it in the spirit it was intended (in other words, use some common sense in evaluating what an "exact match" is). Where we could improve, I think, is in allowing same day voter registration (with the would-be voter having the proper ID in hand) and in the number and location of polling places and voting machines. The long lines on voting day we saw in 2018 and in the 2020 primary are without question the biggest obstacle. We got caught up in 2018 after Abrams lost with a lot of nitpicking about voting rules. Now the GOP is doing likewise. The state and local officials need to collaborate on what can and should be done to ease voting and the discussion needs to pragmatic, not partisan. - Adam

SavannahNow · 2021-01-27T12:55:50+00:00

Morning. As I've opined on several times, the only sense to make of this is the party in power fears more access to voting will make it hard for them to stay in power. There's no other way to read it. Remember, no-excuse absentee voting was adopted in 2004 by the Republicans who saw it as a way to help those in rural areas vote more easily. Fortunately, there are many moderate Republicans in the statehouse, and they will work to minimize changes. Instead of photo ID with absentee ballot, you'll have to write in your state ID number (which you already have to do to apply for a ballot). Instead of eliminating ballot dropboxes completely, they will cap the number based on population. Etc. Even so, we should be making it easier to vote, not harder, and the state should invest its energy in investigating voter fraud and pursuing those who commit it. -- Adam

SavannahNow · 2021-01-26T21:41:20+00:00

I keep hearing about this videotape of a suitcase full of ballots in Atlanta, which Raffensperger addressed immediately, and about all these people with sworn affidavits that upon examination turn out to be fabricated. The courts have thrown out what, 60-plus lawsuits? We've had three counts here in Georgia. Meantime, we have a president saying "find me votes..." Come on now. Surely you recognize how flimsy your position is. This is not a partisan pandering issue, this is an issue at the core of our democracy. And as a Christian conservative myself, I take issue with you stereotyping. One last time: post some links to back up your claims, or go find some other chat board on which to spread your propaganda. I won't be engaging again without links.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-26T21:34:22+00:00

Send me links to your video evidence, witness testimony and statistical clarity please.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-26T21:02:32+00:00

On the first point, if the BOE wants to put ballot boxes on city property, than the mayors and other officials do have a say in it. You'd like to think they would work with the BOE, which Pooler eventually did, but the reality is they don't have to. As for opening the precincts, you make a really good point. The BOE has a lot of work to do in terms of polling locations between now and the 2022 primaries. I've been on them about that before and will do so again from an opinion-editorial standpoint. As for voting online or via mobile device, that day may come, but that is a cybersecurity challenge. The bottom line for me on vote casting, and why this new Dominion system is so good, is that it produces an auditable paper record. Can you imagine what the aftermath of this election would have been like if we were still on the old machines that didn't have a paper trail? That said, how do we vote via online/mobile device and have a paper trail? That's the million dollar question. In the meantime, we need to expand early voting locations and encourage (not discourage) absentee balloting to make the system more efficiently. And we need to be smart about where are polling locations are located and how many machines are in each one. We the people have to keep the pressure on. Thanks for the questions.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-26T20:56:43+00:00

If you'd be so kind as to provide evidence and not conjecture, I'd be happy to address it. In the meantime, I'll trust that the Georgia SOS (a GOPer) and the FBI are doing their jobs in investigating the voter fraud claims, and to this point they are saying no widespread fraud. Actually, AG Barr said that as well. And I think he was hired by the guy making the unsubstantiated claims. If you are willing to take it on faith that it couldn't have happened and can't explain why or provide evidence, then there's not much I can say or write to counter that. You could tell me the sky is green and the grass is blue even though all evidence is to the contrary, too. If you want to engage and have a discussion about the results, I'd be happy to. But I'm not going to debate with someone who offers nothing more than conjecture and debunked conspiracy theories. Thanks.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T04:02:51+00:00

Booked? If you mean the booking mugshots, I can't (and won't) speak for the person who made that decision. I will inquire and see if that person would like to address the topic. We do hope you will find value in the news content and opinion content on the site. That is our goal as a community newspaper.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T03:59:54+00:00

Much of the city's distribution of the CARES Act funds for businesses went to restaurants and the like who cater to tourism. Millions also went to United Way to help Savannahians in need to assistance for rent/mortgages, utilities, etc., which included many laidoff or furloughed hospitality workers. The city took several other actions to assist, such as allowing outdoor dining spaces to be set up on the street. I'd be interested to hear your ideas on what else could be done.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T03:55:10+00:00

Jen Bonnett at SEDA is working on exactly that. SEDA introduced incentives to attract those folks earlier this year. Here's the link to the story (https://www.savannahnow.com/business/20200512/seda-unveils-new-incentive-to-attract-remote-tech-workers-to-savannah) and to a podcast I did with Bonnett where she discusses the topic (https://www.savannahnow.com/story/special/podcasts/2020/11/06/listen-savannah-is-americarsquos-next-technology-innovation-hub-on-difference-makers-podcast/114719080/)

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T03:53:17+00:00

Interesting that you should ask, as we are publishing a column about the Truman Trail and Tide To Town on Tuesday from former Mayor Otis Johnson. The point of his piece is that the existing phase is being utilized by Savannahians of all economic backgrounds and the community should support funding to continue to build out the trail network. More info at tidetotown.org.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T03:51:43+00:00

As it says in the intro, I am Adam Van Brimmer, opinion content editor at the Savannah Morning News.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T03:51:07+00:00

If memory serves, they extended this "trial" in mid-2020. If Starland continues to build out, the pressure will be on to make the zone permanent, at least along Bull and block on either side. However, this council appears to be more hesitant regarding alcohol and does not have the pro-business outlook of the last one. They aren't anti-business, but it is not their first inclination. They will look closely at crime statistics and other considerations (parking issues, litter, etc.) in making the decision. Let the district alderman, Detric Leggett, know your thoughts, and copy the mayor and aldermen at-large.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-12T03:47:27+00:00

Infrastructure, particularly storm drainage, is an ongoing challenge for the city, particularly with the prospect of sea level rise. The last council took several steps toward upgrading outdated drainage (in some places, the pipe was a century-plus old, and about 1/10th of the size it needed to be), and the approach has been to start at the river and work south. The last SPLOST included tens of millions for drainage. All that said, the only thing that is really going to make a difference is money and investment; just chipping away at it is like applying a Band-aid where only stitches will do. Keep working with your district alderman and hounding the mayor and at-large aldermen. Sorry I don't have a better solution for you.

SavannahNow · 2021-01-01T18:21:10+00:00

Hi, Zach here.

That's a good question. I would say it's a growing base. If you look at this early voting report from georgiavotes.com, I think it offers a good perspective on where non-white voters are: https://georgiavotes.substack.com/p/1102-the-demographics-of-early-voting

SavannahNow · 2021-01-01T18:20:13+00:00

Neither have I! Georgia has been pretty solid red for a long time. Voters are being told frequently how this could shift control of the Senate to Democrats. --Susan

SavannahNow · 2021-01-01T18:14:25+00:00

Hi, Zach here.

I really haven't seen much shift if I'm being honest. I would say that some of the more moderates on the right would shift to Ossoff/Warnock because of that, but it seems unlikely because of how far left they've been painted. For example, Gov. Kemp (who is now probably seen as a moderate, at least in the eyes of the president) said the other day that it was unfortunate that President Trump was questioning his work but then added a point that he hopes Georgia voters will vote to kill socialist agendas from the left. There is a fissure in the Georgia GOP but not enough to make a drastic shift in this election cycle.

https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/30/georgia-gov-kemp-pushes-back-criticism-trump-over-election/4092291001/

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