SCHOOL IS OFFICIALLY IN SESSION FOR STUDENTS IN CHATHAM... BULLOCH ... BRYAN ... AND TATTNALL COUNTIES. AND TODAY -- WJCL 22 NEWS' A- J SISSON ... TALKED TO SAVANNAH CHATHAM COUNTY STUDENTS AND DISTRICT LEADERS ... TO FIND OUT HOW THEY'RE FEELING ... ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ... IS OVER HERE AT BEACH HIGH SCHOOL ... AND AS WE TALKED TO STUDENTS AS THEY WERE LEAVING THEIR FIRST DAY ... THEY SAY THEY'RE EXCITED ... FOR WHAT'S TO COME THIS YEAR ... - *NATSOTS FROM STUDENTS* "HOW WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR YOU TODAY?" "IT WAS COOL IT WAS REALLY GOOD, YOU KNOW EVERYTHINGS CALM ON THE FIRST DAY BUT YOU KNOW SCHOOL GOES ON." "IT WAS A NICE EASY FIRST DAY" SUPERINTENDENT DR DENISE WATTS ... ECHOED HER STUDENTS' STATEMENTS ... <> "TODAY WAS AN AMAZING DAY. LOTS OF POSITIVE ENERGY, LOTS OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK THAT HAPPENED TO ENSURE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WAS SUCCESSFUL." DESPITE THERE BEING SOME CHALLENGES AND GROWING PAINS ... <> "TODAY OUR TRANSPORTATION FIELDED ABOUT 343 CALLS ... 256 OF THOSE WERE HANDLED ... AND THEN SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK AROUND." THE DISTRICT STILL NEEDS TEACHERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ... AND IS STILL SHORT OF THEIR 220 BUS DRIVER GOAL ... HOWEVER ... SHE SAYS THE COMMUNITY ... STEPPED UP FOR THEIR FIRST DAY ... <> "I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DID NOT LIFE UP OUR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO TODAY WE HAVE OBSERVED TO BE EXTREMELY PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL." OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS OUR ARE ARE SET TO START AS EARLY ... AS TOMORROW ... ALL T
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SCCPSS: Superintendent says district is in need of key positions in and out of the classroom
Savannah Chatham County Public School System's superintendent, Dr. Denise Watts, now entering her second year at the district's helm, spoke with members of the media about the first day of school
Savannah Chatham County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts, now entering her second year at the district's helm, spoke with members of the media about the first day of school, challenges they still face and what went well."Today was an amazing day," Watts said. "Lots of positive energy, lots of behind-the-scenes work that happened to ensure the first day of school was successful."From greeting bus drivers at the district's bus depot to traveling to several schools across the district, Watts and her team saw and heard how the first day went district-wide.In a school system with 35,498 students enrolled, and more than 3,000 of them being new, the superintendent says some growing pains are to be expected."Our transportation office received about 343 calls, 256 of those were handled," Watts said. "Then some other issues we need to continue to work around."District leaders highlighted an app for families to use called "Here Comes the Bus" that gives real-time updates on where a student's bus is. Information how to access that can be found here.As of the first day of school, district leaders say there are 75 teacher vacancies and 197 bus drivers out of the 220 they aim for. However, they added that 16 of the system's 51 schools are overstaffed.“I want to acknowledge the teachers that we have hired and who showed up today with a lot of energy, excitement and engagement,” Watts said. “You could already see, in almost every single classroom, relationships being formed.”Furthermore, more than 19,000 meals were served to students on Thursday.The superintendent says the first day of school went "as expected," but is optimistic for the rest of the 2024-25 school year."I would also be remiss if I did not list up our parents and community members, who today, we have observed to be extremely patient and understanding of the first day of school," Watts said.
SAVANNAH, Ga. —
Savannah Chatham County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts, now entering her second year at the district's helm, spoke with members of the media about the first day of school, challenges they still face and what went well.
"Today was an amazing day," Watts said. "Lots of positive energy, lots of behind-the-scenes work that happened to ensure the first day of school was successful."
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From greeting bus drivers at the district's bus depot to traveling to several schools across the district, Watts and her team saw and heard how the first day went district-wide.
In a school system with 35,498 students enrolled, and more than 3,000 of them being new, the superintendent says some growing pains are to be expected.
"Our transportation office received about 343 calls, 256 of those were handled," Watts said. "Then some other issues we need to continue to work around."
District leaders highlighted an app for families to use called "Here Comes the Bus" that gives real-time updates on where a student's bus is. Information how to access that can be found here.
As of the first day of school, district leaders say there are 75 teacher vacancies and 197 bus drivers out of the 220 they aim for. However, they added that 16 of the system's 51 schools are overstaffed.
“I want to acknowledge the teachers that we have hired and who showed up today with a lot of energy, excitement and engagement,” Watts said. “You could already see, in almost every single classroom, relationships being formed.”
Furthermore, more than 19,000 meals were served to students on Thursday.
The superintendent says the first day of school went "as expected," but is optimistic for the rest of the 2024-25 school year.
"I would also be remiss if I did not list up our parents and community members, who today, we have observed to be extremely patient and understanding of the first day of school," Watts said.
