PICKENS COUNTY — Despite the temperatures screaming summer is still in full swing, students of the School District of Pickens County have to prepare for the return to the classroom.
For teachers, the return date to the classroom will be Aug. 11 with two school level professional learning days scheduled for Aug. 11 and Aug. 15. At the district level there will be a district level professional learning day held Aug. 12.
Students will return to school Aug. 16 and begin the school year with their first break scheduled for Sept. 5 with the annual celebration of Labor Day. Calendars will be available for students and parents but there are some early dates which parents may want to note as well students.
SDPC’s interim reports for the first grade period will be issued Sept. 19 with the end of the first grading period ending Oct. 21. Report cards for the first grading period will be issued Oct. 31 just in time for Halloween with students hoping their grades will be treats and not tricks. 2017 graduation is scheduled for June 3.
South Carolina will be holding its annual tax free weekend of Aug. 5-7.
Rick Reames of the S.C. Department of Revenue said the weekend saves residents in the millions and benefits local business.
“The Sales Tax Free Holiday weekend benefits both consumers and businesses,” said Reames. “Parents save money on important back-to-school items for their children, while retailers enjoy increased traffic.”
For one weekend every summer, specific items are exempt from the 6 percent state sales tax and any applicable local sales taxes. Some of the tax free items include paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, book bags, computers, clothing, shoes, bed linens, and bath towels.
Jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, furniture, and items placed on layaway are not exempt from sales taxes.
Code Section 12-36-2120(57) exempts from the sales and use tax sales taking place during a period beginning 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at midnight the following Sunday of clothing; clothing accessories including, but not limited to, hats, scarves, hosiery, and handbags; footwear; school supplies including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, paper, binders, notebooks, books, bookbags, lunchboxes, and calculators; computers, printers and printer supplies, and computer software; and bath wash clothes, blankets, bed spreads, bed linens, sheet sets, comforter sets, bath towels, shower curtains, bath rugs and mats, pillows, and pillow cases.
The exemption does not apply to sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, wallets, watches; sales of furniture; sale of an item placed on layaway or similar deferred payment and delivery plan however described; rental of clothing or footwear; or sale or lease of an item for use in a trade or business.
