COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County just issued the follow statement. Because of the impending winter storm, evening athletic events and activities in all SDPC schools are canceled. The one exception is the All-County Band Concert scheduled at 6:30 p.m. The concert will take place as scheduled. Saturday activities are also canceled.

CENTRAL — The decision by the School District of Pickens County and the School District of Oconee County to play the Daniel-Seneca varsity basketball games in a gym closed to the public remains unchanged. Officials have decided, however, to allow players’ parents to attend.

Other attendees will be limited to team members, coaches, officials, game personnel, school administrators from each school, law enforcement officials, and members of the media with proper credentials.

The joint decision to close the game was made as the result of serious threats against the safety of two Daniel High School players specifically targeting Friday night’s basketball game. Those threats came after a weekend drive-by shooting incident in Seneca.

According to Seneca Police Chief John Covington, the investigation into the shooting is continuing. However, any connection between the shooting and Daniel High has been eliminated.

“We are relieved to know that Daniel students were not involved in the incident,” said Sharon Huff, Daniel High School principal. “We are still concerned that our players have received serious threats and feel it is in the best interest of our students’ safety to keep the game closed to the public. We are opening the game to the players’ parents.”

Only parents/guardians listed in each school’s student database will be admitted. Both Daniel and Seneca administrators will be present and will verify that only parents are entering school property as well as the gym. Picture IDs should be available upon request.

Administrators from both districts continue working together to ensure safety for all students.

CENTRAL – Because of concern for student safety following recent community events, Friday night’s Daniel vs. Seneca varsity basketball games will be played in a closed Daniel High gym.

This week’s junior varsity games scheduled at Seneca High have been cancelled.

Administrators at Daniel and Seneca high schools announced the joint decision Wednesday following conversations with officials from local law enforcement agencies and the South Carolina High School League.

Attendees will be limited to team members, coaches, officials, game personnel, school administrators from each school, law enforcement officials, and members of the media with proper credentials.

“This was a joint decision preceded by careful consideration of many options,” Seneca High School principal Cliff Roberts said. “We are confident that our decision to close the varsity games and cancel the junior varsity games is best for ensuring the safety of our students.”

“It’s unfortunate that a community incident negatively impacts a high school game in this way,” said Sharon Huff, principal at Daniel. “The Daniel vs. Seneca game is always well-attended, and people enjoy the rivalry. Our athletic program will lose revenue; however, we can’t put a price on student safety. We’re simply taking precautions to protect students.”

Huff and Roberts stressed that the community incidents have not impacted day-to-day instruction and activities at the schools.

No further details were available at the time of this story.

By Olivia Fowler
Associate Editor
COUNTY — Pickens County schools can expect fewer teachers, larger classes and probably a shorter school year if the state legislature agrees to eliminate five instructional days at the end of the year.
Missy Campbell, finance director for the district, told school board members new cuts made by the state Budget and Control Board in December were far more than expected and will move state education funding levels back 14 years to those of 1996-1997.
These and other cost-cutting efforts may continue in county schools for some time if state revenue continues to decline.
The new cut, of nearly $2 million, will be on top of $2 million state cuts made in September of the current school year.
Even more cuts are expected.
The second revision of the year reduced the current operating budgert to $93,107,887.
“We don’t know at this point about more cuts,” said Jim Shelton, chairman of the county school board. “When we had budget issues in the past, we absorbed them through creative finance, attrition of TERI employees. It’s safe to say there will have to be further reductions in manpower.”
According to information from the district, about 65 percent of the school fund budget normally comes from the state.
But according to many economists, the recession, which began in 2007, combined with SC Act 388 has cut a wide swath in state revenue collections.
A portion of the slack was taken up with the two-year federal stimulus package. That money runs out after next year.
In January 2009, the school district lost $3.7 million in state funds. That cut was dealt with when the board approved pay cuts, a 25 percent reduction in per pupil allocations, unpaid teacher furloughs and a hiring freeze.
Fully funded costs per pupil were originally set at $2,687. The 25 percent reduction in 2009 cut this figure to $2,034. The new cut will bring the amount down to $1,764, a reduction of about 34 percent.
Campbell told board members future cuts may be coming but at this time there’s no way to predict what final figures will be.