By Nicole Daughhetee
Staff Reporter
COUNTY — With school scheduled to begin next Tuesday, August 21, some residents in the School District of Pickens County are concerned about start delays, traffic troubles and parking hassles resulting from the opening of the new high schools in Central and Easley.

Bob Folkman, the building program director for the School District of Pickens County, says that any rumors about failed inspections and delayed start times for the new Daniel High School are unfounded and entirely untrue.
“We have passed all of the necessary inspections required for Daniel High school to open on time as scheduled,” Folkman told the Courier Tuesday.
Concerns about transportation and parking for students and faculty can also be laid to rest, Folkman said.

“The bus loop in front of Daniel has been paved and completed,” he said. “Student parking pavement will begin tomorrow, and we have been assured that there will be ample student parking — including handicapped parking areas — when school starts next week. Faculty parking will be available on and off site.”

According to Folkman, there will be some faculty parking available on-site at Daniel, and if this space is not adequate, faculty members will be able to park at Daniel’s football stadium or directly across the street from the high school in the fire department parking area. Additional spaces will be available at R.C. Edwards Middle School if necessary.

“For the first few days of school,” said Folkman, “law enforcement will be monitoring the traffic flow so that things run smoothly.”
As for schools in the Easley attendance area, they will operate on a staggered bell schedule as the 2012-2013 academic year opens. Because of the location of Easley’s new high school, district officials are trying to head-off any potential traffic flow issues along Highway 8.
John Eby, information specialist for the SDPC, says that schools in the Easley attendance area will begin and end according to the following schedule:
Easley elementary schools (Crosswell Elementary, East End Elementary, McKissick Elementary, Forest Acres Elementary and West End Elementary) will begin at 8 a.m. and dismiss at 2:30 p.m.

Gettys Middle School will begin at 8:30 a.m. and dismiss at 3:30 p.m.; and the new Easley High School will begin at 8:15 a.m. and dismiss at 3:10 p.m.

Easley-area schools will begin accepting students at 7:30 a.m., and breakfast will be provided for students who arrive early.

According to Eby, district officials will monitor traffic flow during the first two weeks of school, and start and dismissal might be modified if necessary.