SAVANNAH, Ga. () – Leaders of Savannah-Chatham County’s public schools are implementing an innovative strategy to find new principals for two schools, which have lower scores according to the state’s success criteria.

Both Hubert Middle School and Beach High School are in need of new principals. For the upcoming school year, the district is aiming to propel these schools toward success by hosting community meetings to collect input on the hiring process.

“Historically, Beach was exceptional. This community was exceptional, and it is currently on an upward trajectory. We want to ensure that the new principal is committed to both the community and the school,” Altheria Maynard, Co-President of the Cann/Jackson Park Neighborhood Association, stated at a meeting on Wednesday night.

The Georgia Department of Education’s 2024 College and Career Ready Performance Index measures individual schools’ success by four categories: content mastery, progress, closing gaps and readiness.

Graduation rate is also considered for high schools.

Beach ranks in the bottom five of all Chatham County high schools in every category other than progress and is below the state average in the same categories, according to the index.

Hubert, according to the index, is in the bottom five and below the state average in all categories except graduation rate, which does not apply to middle schools.

In a series of meetings held Tuesday and Wednesday night, district officials met with parents and community stakeholders about what they want to see in their children’s next principal.

“Hiring a leader and a principal of a school is more about a person who brings all the competencies to the table, and we’re not doing anything special because of a performance of a school,” Chief of Schools for Savannah Chatham County Public Schools Raymond Barnes said.

To determine what competencies the new principals should have, district officials had members of the community vote.

“It was a good showing, but I would’ve liked to see a whole lot more people here involved in the process because the more we educate ourselves about where that bar is, then we can help the school community meet that bar,” Deborah Clarke, Ph.D., a Beach High alumnus and retired SCCPSS educator, said.

Going forward, district officials will incorporate the community feedback into interview questions for principal candidates. Then SCCPSS Superintendent Denise Watts, Ph.D. will recommend candidates for the Savannah-Chatham Board of Education’s approval.

According to district officials, the goal is to have the new principals at both Hubert and Beach named by July 1.