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Board adopts resolution to issue $100 million in school bonds; county fronted $30 million earlier and schools outline Clayton High rebuild plan
Summary
The Board adopted a resolution and capital project ordinance authorizing the issuance of $100 million in general-obligation school bonds tied to the county's 2022 referendum.
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution and accompanying capital project ordinance to authorize staff to proceed with the issuance of $100 million in general obligation school bonds, series 2025, tied to the county's 2022 referendum.
Martha (county staff, name not specified) told the board the resolution and ordinance would give staff authority to proceed toward a scheduled Local Government Commission review and a March 4 sale date. A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution and capital project ordinance and the board approved the motion by voice vote.
The board also discussed a prior board action to advance $30,000,000 to the school system so that ongoing construction for projects approved in the 2022 referendum would not stop while the county prepared for the bond sale; County staff explained that the advanced funds will be reimbursed from bond proceeds once the sale occurs. A county official said “we're fronting that money, and then we get reimbursed when we sell it in March.”
Johnston County Public Schools leaders then briefed commissioners on capital projects and the proposed rebuild of Clayton High School. Lynn Andrews, chair of the Johnston County Board of Education, said the district aims to rebuild Clayton High on its existing campus and retain students on site during construction. Facilities representative Brooks Moore described Clayton High as originally built in 1950 and now serving nearly 2,000 students with a facility-condition index (FCI) of about 0.77; by industry standards an FCI of 0.60 or higher is considered critical.
Moore said a feasibility study found room on the northern portion of the campus to construct a new school while the current campus remains operational. He described a design–build delivery approach with about one year for design and roughly three years of phased construction; some athletic and logistics changes will be required during construction. Commissioners and school staff discussed life-cycle materials, security improvements (the current campus has many exterior doors), and plans to involve stakeholders as the design process proceeds.
Commissioners asked staff to prepare a reimbursement resolution and to return with financing and schedule details as designs are finalized. The board also noted the school board planned to select a design team the following week and that the county and schools would coordinate on next steps.
Votes taken on the resolution and capital project ordinance and the earlier motion to advance funds were recorded by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the meeting transcript.
