Aiken High Principal Dr. Jason Holt cut the ribbon to open the school's renovated James A. Taylor Student Activities Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Just a little later, the boy's and girl's basketball teams christened the gleaming new gym floor during their first home game against Silver Bluff High School. The gymnasium originally opened in 1995 and was named for Taylor, a former Aiken High School principal.
“This facility really helps us connect the great investment our county and all the community have in what our schools are doing,” Holt said. “We hope to represent that as we give the best service not only to our students and adults but also to the great surrounding area.”
Revenue from the 1% sales tax Aiken County voters approved in November 2014 helped pay for the renovations, which took about a year to complete.
“It goes back to that day when the community decided to say yes to the 1-cent sales tax,” said Dr. Shawn Foster, the chief officer for Operations and Student Services for Aiken County Public Schools. “We're more excited each day when we see these new facilities and the opportunities they give our students, and that's what it's all about.”
In addition to the renovated gym, the facility includes a new weight room, wrestling room, training room, auxiliary room for cheerleaders and locker rooms for the the Hornets and visitors. The building also has a new concession stand, laundry room, storage areas and additional meeting and classroom space.
Click here to read the full Aiken Standard article.