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Pickens County completes high school remodel; district highlights safety exercises, CNA pathway and improvements to transportation and nutrition
Summary
District leaders showcased a completed high school remodel, a new CNA classroom and safety exercises with sheriff's office partners; they also recognized campus law enforcement and staff for summer work.
District operations and facilities leaders reported several completed summer projects, safety preparations and new instructional pathways at the Pickens County School Board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Chris Parker and operations staff presented photos of the high school remodel, noting new LED lighting, updated flooring and an upgraded HVAC cooling tower replaced after roughly 27–28 years of service. Parker said interior improvements included lab space for a newly added CNA (certified nursing assistant) pathway; the district said local hospital partners will hire some students and may support further training.
Parker reported the district conducted a full safety exercise with the sheriff's office and local emergency agencies, covering fire, EMS and law-enforcement responses; staff and teachers participated and the district described the exercise as improving preparedness. Transportation staff have resumed bus-safety training and are managing approximately 2,000 student daily bus routes across about 60 buses, Parker said, and officials described a largely smooth start to the year while acknowledging a small number of continuing routing issues.
The board publicly recognized Deputy Blake McClure (campus law enforcement) after an Aug. 5 incident in which he observed an unauthorized adult near Pickens Junior High during dismissal, pursued and detained the person after a short foot chase; the district said the person was not armed. The board also recognized Jennifer Alford for her work reorganizing the district warehouse surplus program and several facilities staff members — Stacy Williams, Jacob Poole and Chris Williams — for extensive summer maintenance and rapid turnaround on projects including parking-lot repair and playground work.
Direct quotes in the meeting record: Deputy McClure was praised in the recognition remarks for “quickly identifying and addressing threats, to keep our schools safe.” Student recognition included a presentation by Ava Harrison, a Pickens High School junior who attended the Governor’s Honors Program and described the theater program experience. Staff presenters emphasized that many of the summer projects supported instructional priorities and improved safety and maintenance of district facilities.
District leaders said the summer work was extensive and credited custodial, operations and transportation staff for the rapid pace and coordination with school principals.
