Pickens County school board approves $7.81 million GMP for high‑school renovation, raises senior tax‑exemption cap and elects officers

The Pickens County Board of Education on Jan. 9 approved a guaranteed maximum price of $7,808,660 with Carol Daniel Construction for phase 2 of the Pickens High School renovation, approved a $63,292.40 change order on a recently completed field‑house project, voted to raise the local senior property tax‑exemption cap from $25,000 to $40,000 and elected Amy Gibson chair and Joe Wigginton vice chair for 2025.

Board Superintendent Dr. Thomas read the board’s governing policy before the chair election, saying, "Board policy BBA states that Pickens County Board of Education shall elect by majority vote a chairperson and vice chairperson annually at the first meeting of the board each calendar year," a procedure the board followed at the meeting.

The board elected Amy Gibson as chair by voice vote; the superintendent reported "4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention" for the chair vote. The board also elected Joe Wigginton as vice chair; the transcript records his nomination and subsequent announcement of his election but does not include a roll‑call tally for the vice‑chair vote.

On capital projects,…