SCCPSS Superintendent shares priorities ahead of the first day of school

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - We’re less than two weeks away from the first day of school for Savannah Chatham County students.

Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts shared her priorities in the monthly Savannah NAACP meeting Sunday.

She talked about several changes that’ll take place this upcoming year.

We’ve been talking about changes for students all week long, but there will also be changes for teachers and employees.

A packed NAACP meeting Sunday.

It’s the last meeting before students head back to the classroom.

Savannah Chatham County Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts was the guest this week.

“We just finished a major compensation study across the district,” said Dr. Watts.

She laid out several big changes for the year ahead.

Some of them for teachers and employees across the district.

“A cost of living adjustment raise,” said Dr. Watts.

She said this three percent raise, along with a $500 grant for teachers, will make the district one of the most competitive in the state to work.

Many of these monthly meetings serve as a public forum for the community to ask their own questions.

“What does climate and culture transformation means and what are the strategies that you all are using,” asked an attendee.

“It is how you feel seen or heard when you ask a question. It is how quickly somebody responds to a complaint that you have,” replied Dr. Watts.

She said some of their main priorities this year are literacy, nutrition, and attendance for students.

As back-to-school season is in full swing, we sat down with Dr. Watts to talk about changes specific to students and new attendance policies

SEE: School lunch, attendance policy changes explained by SCCPSS