This morning, in an email to all candidates, Kelly Pack announced, “We have received notice that one candidate, Barbara Hubbard, will no longer be able to participate in tomorrow’s forum due to personal reasons. We have discussed this with both candidates for District 1 and have agreed that we will proceed with having Denise Grabowski continue to participate in a “conversation” style setting during the D1 forum time.”

Kelly Pack, an administrator of Voices for Schools, and debate forum organizer says, “Understanding how the school board works and who represents you is so important. These are the people responsible for drafting policies and providing the resources to ensure all children in our district receive a fair and appropriate public education. Even if you don’t have children in school, ensuring all children receive a quality education is essential for creating a well run society. Most people you interact with on a daily basis are the product of public schools. Get to know the candidates who are asking to represent you in molding what that public education will look like. Find out their priorities, ideologies, and then vote for the person who you believe will best serve our community. Primary elections historically have the lowest turn out, but these are the elections where we choose those who have the largest impact on our day to day lives.”

Coco Guthrie-Papy says, “As we’ve seen from early voting numbers only 3.28% of eligible voters have voted in this election. There is certainly something to be drawn from the fact that it is a standalone election with the primary being its main draw, but I would argue it’s probably one of the more important elections, because you’re putting in a vote for judges, sheriff candidates, school board and DA candidates. When we think about the levers of power, these are the spaces that really matter. They can sometimes feel overshadowed by something like a governor’s race or a presidential election, but these are the people who make so many of the decisions that impact local life and well-being.”

“This is where the most change can be possible. Whether that change is positive or negative is up to voters – it is the potential change that has the most impact the most immediately on our lives. I understand that many of us are in a state of fatigue and yes, it does feel like there’s an election every year in Georgia. And I don’t know how to always balance the urgency in which it feels and also the status quo that continues to remain for some of our most vulnerable folks when they ask the question, why should I even vote? I just know that participation is crucial in this long ark of work.”

If you had a company that was hiring a person who would oversee a $840 million budget, 5,600 people on staff, 60 facilities, and 36,000 children – how much research would you do before you hired that person? When you vote for the School Board – that is what you are doing – hiring someone with that much power!

Voices for Schools and Deep Center have teamed up to host this debate forum in an effort to provide voters with the information that they need to make those “hiring” decisions in an informed manner. Voices for Schools and Deep Center hosted a similar debate forum two years ago, for District 4, 5, 7, and 8 candidates, along with the School Board President candidates.

All candidates for those seats participated in the 2022 forum and voters were given a good look at the difference in the people running for those positions.

Migrant Equity Southeast will be providing translation services during the forum. District One will begin at 2 p.m., District Three at 3:15 p.m., and District Seven at 4:30 p.m.

Follow Connect Savannah for results on Election Night!

Individuals who have questions about voting, or issues on Election Day, are encouraged to call the Chatham County Voter Registration office at (912) 790-1520.

Where to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, May 21)?

At your normal polling place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For locations and directions, check the My Voter Page on the Georgia Secretary of State website linked here.

Where to drop an absentee ballot?

You can drop it off at one of three available drop boxes before 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

VR Annex – 1249 Eisenhower Drive – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mosquito Control – 65 Billy B Hair Drive – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Civic Center – 301 West Oglethorpe Avenue – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Military personnel have three additional days for the Chatham County Board of Elections to receive their absentee ballot in the mail.

Connect Savannah asked the candidates, “Why do you want to be on the SCCPSS School Board?”

District One

Denise Grabowski – incumbent – started January 1, 2021

I believe deeply in the importance of giving back and the importance of education , so serving on the board is an honor and a commitment I take very seriously. I am completing my first term and ready to keep going! I have been active with the school district since my children were in elementary school when I served on the school council at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy. They are both still students in the district, so I am personally invested, not only as a board member but also as a mother. When I began my term in January 2021, we were still in the height of COVID and we continue to deal with the impacts the pandemic had on our students, teachers, and staff.

As we look to the future, I am excited about the direction in which our district is heading and want to continue working collaboratively with the Superintendent and her team, the board, and the community to support our focus on literacy, improving academic outcomes across the district, and ensuring our students are prepared for their future whatever that may hold for them. I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the board through my education professional experience and engagement with the community both professionally and through service.

Barbara Hubbard

My personal vision has always been to be a leader in my field, using my 

expertise to create positive change in the community through the school system. As the District 1 School Board member, I will continue to work towards sharing my skills and building meaningful connections with others in the school district.

As a veteran teacher, I have seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs within our schools. My experience has taught me the importance of ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education. As a career educator, I am used to dealing with complex issues. I will work tirelessly to create new solutions to complex problems.

District Three

Connie Hall – incumbent – started February 2012

I take my position as a school board representative very seriously. As a senior member of the team, having served since February 2012, I have had the opportunity to confront and often resolve , through policy changes and upgrades, many stubborn challenges as well as enjoy areas of growth and success.

Tanet Taharka Myers

I want to be on the SCCPSS School Board to address the current crises plaguing our students, parents and educators. I am committed to resetting our record of being a school system of excellence that is in high demand due to student success. According to the Georgia Department of Education, five out of seven public schools in District 3 are categorized as Title One School Wide Programs (SWP). These schools are defined as comprehensive reform programs for low performing students. The current status of District 3 schools coupled with other system-wide issues like high levels of absenteeism and low rates of student performance in reading and literacy adds to the increased level of student deficits and further exacerbates the classroom education experience for our teachers. I am pursuing the District 3 School Board seat to resolve this growing list of academic concerns for our students, parents and educators. The restoration of a stellar educational journey needs to be experienced by each school system stakeholder and I truly believe our students, parents and teachers deserve an opportunity to “Rise and Shine”.

District Seven

Michael Johnson – incumbent – serving since June 2016

I want to be able to continue to work with the Superintendent and continue her vision of the District. We do have serious issues within the District and they don’t change for the better overnight.

As being a voice for students, families, and staff for West Chatham now is not the right time to change course now that West Chatham is getting ESPLOST projects and will continue to with me representing the area.

As a fiscal conservative who has never voted for a millage rate increase we need to continue to push for more transparency. Over the past 8 years the budget process has become more transparent and has provided students, families, staff, and the general public to let us know what they are looking for in the budget.

I know the job because I have been doing the job. I also understand and feel how what we do affects everyday families who have children in the District. I don’t do this job to be popular or a title, I do this job because it is personal to me and my family.

Jay Jones

I am passionate about education and deeply committed to the success of all students in our community. Serving on the SCCPSS School Board allows me the opportunity to contribute my skills, experience, and dedication to supporting our schools, teachers, and students. I believe that by being a part of the school board, I can help shape policies and decisions that will improve educational outcomes, create a safe and inclusive learning environment, and ensure that every student has access to quality education. I am eager to continue the work that has been started and to work collaboratively with other board members, educators, parents, and the community to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.

Stephanie Campbell

Chatham County Schools are failing our students and our community. With less than a third of 3rd graders reading at grade level, illiteracy is now commonplace. Our student test scores remain abysmal and only 65 percent of graduating seniors are deemed “ready” for college or career.

The classroom is no longer safe with nearly 10,000 school discipline events reported in 2023. Even worse, 74 percent of those incidents involved “harm to person” – violence.

With the loss of transportation for choice and charter schools, parents are unable to send their children where they will be granted the best possibilities for success. Families have run out of options for quality education. We should offer excellence in education to all families, regardless of financial resources or zip code.

Teachers are overwhelmed by overpopulated classrooms in which distractions and necessary interventions are routine, causing them to abandon their dream of being a lifelong educator or feel unsupported by administration.

While taxpayers, who are battling inflation, pain at the pump, and rising costs of groceries are tightly managing their spending, the school system refuses to do the same. We have a teacher shortage, bus driver shortage, and social worker shortage, yet the Board approves bloated budgets that fail to prioritize what matters most.

The status quo in Chatham County is simply unacceptable and unsustainable.

Academic excellence should be the standard – not the exception. School safety should be a priority – not an afterthought. Our tax dollars should be spent in the classroom – not on the bureaucracy. Our students and parents deserve better.

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UPDATE: Two Candidates unable to attend Sunday’s School Board Candidate Forum

Stephanie Campbell and Barbara Hubbard confirmed participation in the debate forum in mid-April

Stephanie Campbell – Who is she?

This article appears in Connect Savannah I Best of Savannah.