The Pickens County Board of Education on April 10 approved a personnel actions report, a fiscal 2025 budget amendment, and an amended request to increase the district's payment for three school buses by $7,500 during its regular board meeting, board members said.

The actions followed a financial briefing from Amy Smith, the district chief financial officer, who reported that general fund revenue collected through March 2025 stood at 78.2% of the annual budget while expenditures through that month were about 60.1% of budget. Smith said the district's month-end enterprise fund balance was $9,302,052.61 and that collections for March included a capital-related receipt of $697,610.99.

Why it matters: The votes finalize routine personnel and budget business for the district and clear an amendment tied to an earlier bus purchase approval. The bus-price increase responds to rising materials costs and adjusts the district's payment obligation for the three vehicles.

Board action and votes

- The agenda as amended was approved by the board. (Motion and second from the floor; no individual roll-call recorded.)

- The personnel action report was approved. The board recorded the vote as 5-0 in favor. (Motion and second on the record.)

- The fiscal year 2025 budget amendment was approved by voice vote after a motion and second; no roll-call tally was recorded in the minutes.

- The board approved an amendment to the previously authorized purchase of three school buses to increase the district's payment by $7,500. Dr. Thomas said the change "is to increase our payment for the purchase of these 3 buses by $7,500" to reflect higher materials costs. (Motion and second on the record; approved by voice vote.)

- A consent agenda including financial reports, an ELA textbook adoption for grades 6'12, minutes from March board meetings, and surplus declarations including six school buses over 10 years old was approved by the board.

What was discussed

Board members did not debate the personnel report or the consent agenda at length. The bus amendment was introduced earlier in the meeting when Dr. Thomas explained that increased material costs required a $7,500 upward adjustment to the district's payment for the three buses that the board had previously authorized.

Financial context

Smith told the board the district typically reports a month behind on consolidated fund activity and reminded members that payroll and year-end items will shift the seasonal percentages when the fiscal year closes. Smith also noted the district's process for special-revenue collections and reimbursements and praised the federal programs and special-education teams for prompt claims processing.

Looking ahead

Board members did not attach additional conditions to the approved items. The amended bus purchase will proceed under the previously authorized procurement process. The board set no separate deadline related to these items during the meeting.