SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC)— More than 34,000 students across the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System returned to classrooms on Monday for the start of the 2026-27 school year, marking what district officials described as an exceptionally smooth opening day. Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts spent her day on a fast-paced tour visiting nine different school sites and facilities across the district, beginning well before dawn to greet drivers at the Gamble Road transportation lot to meeting students in various schools across the county. In total, the district successfully opened 61 academic locations on Monday, including the new REACH charter school. Watts says, according to district records, day-one enrollment stood at 34,466 students. Watts noted that 256 new registrations were submitted over the weekend alone, and those enrollment numbers will continue to fluctuate throughout the first few weeks of August. A major change for students this year is the district’s transition to a completely “distraction-free” cell phone policy, aligning with new Georgia state law. Under the policy, K-12 students are banned from using or having their cell phones out from “bell-to-bell” during the school day. “Our district is a distraction-free school district, which means we have a cell phone policy that aligns now with state law. All of our students K-12 are not allowed to have cell phones bell-to-bell,” Watts said. To help families and students adjust, the district is offering a one-week…
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