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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Bob Folkman will bring 38 years of construction experience with him when he assumes the duties of building program administrator for the School District of Pickens County, effective July 1.

EASLEY — Bob Folkman, who is currently a senior project manager with JCI General Contractors, Inc. in Moultrie, Ga., has been named as the building program administrator for the School District of Pickens County.

Folkman, who is scheduled to begin his new duties July 1, has worked in the construction industry since 1971. His work experience includes multiple primary and secondary schools as well as extensive experience with federal, state and local projects and private and residential projects.

Pickens County School Superintendent Henry Hunt said the district is fortunate to have Folkman come on board at this time.

“His extensive experience in school construction, both new construction and renovations, as well as his most recent experience as senior project manager for construction of two new high schools in Georgia will be a definite asset as he takes the reins of our facilities plan,” Hunt said.

The building program administrator’s position became vacant when Reggie Hall retired at the end of February. Former superintendent Mendel Stewart has been administering the program since that time.

School officials have been coordinating the building program since the board approved a $315 million building plan in November 2006. The plan, proposed by former superintendent Lee D’Andrea, included construction of four new high schools, a state-of-the-art technology center and renovations to the other elementary schools.

Since that time, the board has also approved construction of two new elementary schools — in Liberty, to go along with the existing elementary school, and in Dacusville — with a revised budget of $365,063,270. An installment purchase plan is funding the construction.