Just one week after concerned residents petitioned the school district, a new plan was approved for the conversion of Easley High School into a middle school, while preserving the existing buildings.

The School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees voted unanimously for one of two new conversion plans Tuesday night that would preserve both the 1939 and 1979 buildings at no additional cost to the school district.

"I feel relieved," Mayor Larry Bagwell said. "I'm so glad the school board saw an opportunity to make a decision that would be good for everybody."

After hearing the disapproval of several Easley residents over the demolition of the 1939 building during a meeting last week, district officials decided to look into alternative options.

Building Administrator Bob Folkman and McMillan Pazdan Smith architect Brian Deichman began working immediately on developing alternate plans.

"I actually did a new sketch during the meeting," Deichman said. 

Of the two new plans, option 6 and 7, only Option 6 included the preservation of both existing buildings. Option 7 would have only saved the 1939 building. The board voted to approve option 6.

The new plan will not increase the project budget because it involves less new construction, Deichman said. The only new construction needed will be new connectors between the buildings and a new strings and chorus building.

The new plan also calls for the removal of the existing office building which will create additional parking in front of the school.

Superintendent Henry Hunt said he has addressed concerns from individuals that felt that both buildings were not structurally suitable for continued use.

"I can assure you on the renovation of one or both, the finished project would be a quality building," Hunt said.

The renovation of the 1939 building will involve stripping the wall, floor and ceiling finishes, installing new electrical and plumbing systems, meeting building codes, and making all buildings compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Folkman told the board.

Chairman Alex Saitta said he was concerned about the parity of the school renovation projects because the new middle school will have both an auditorium and an athletic stadium while other middle schools will not.

"Yes we'd like for everything to be fairly equal, but in this case you might be right that they would have the benefit of an auditorium," Hunt said.

Hunt said other district schools do have plans for stage areas but not full auditoriums or athletic stadiums.

"I don't think you tear something down to make something equal," Trustee Judy Edwards said.

Earlier in the meeting Saitta recommended the sale of Brice Field, West End Hall and the land for the county's Head Start building to the city of Easley for $250,000. Saitta said the sale of the maintenance cost of the properties were a burden on the district. The board decided to postpone a vote on the recommendation.

In the meantime, residents who were hoping for the preservation of a piece of Easley's past can breathe easy.

"We are very pleased that the board finally came around," Pickens County Historical Society Vice President Wayne Kelley said.