Summary
Johnston County Public Schools on Nov. 3 asked the Board of Commissioners to provide $129,381,316 to complete a two‑phase rebuild of Clayton High School, the district superintendent said at a presentation by the school board and the project design‑build team.
Johnston County Public Schools on Nov. 3 asked the Board of Commissioners to provide $129,381,316 to complete a two‑phase rebuild of Clayton High School, the district superintendent said at a presentation by the school board and the project design‑build team.
"On behalf of the Board of Education, I stand before you this morning to make a formal request of an additional balance of $129,381,316 for the Johnston from the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to complete this Clayton High School rebuild project," Dr. David Pierce, superintendent, said during the meeting.
The request followed presentations from Barnhill Building Group and the school system detailing design, phasing, schedule and pricing. Marty Moser, president of Barnhill Building Group, summarized the work to date: "Over the course of that 7 months, we now stand we have about 740 sheets of construction documents, a couple thousand pages of specifications" and said the team had advanced to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP).
Project financials presented at the meeting list earlier contracts and amendments that produce a construction GMP of $126,381,316; Johnston County Public Schools also expects $8,000,000 in direct school costs for furniture, technology and moving, producing a total project cost of $134,381,316. Presenters said $5,000,000 had previously been funded; the remaining county funding requested is $129,381,316.
Barnhill and school staff described a two‑phase construction plan intended to keep the existing school open during much of construction. Key dates shown by the design team include a planned notice to proceed on Dec. 16, 2025; completion of the main new building in 2027; demolition and temporary parking work in 2026; and phase 2 completing in August 2028.
The rebuild is planned for a 2,000‑student capacity, with district staff noting the school would likely open with about 1,700 students as enrollment shifts from other nearby schools. Presenters said the new design reduces the number of exterior points of entry from the current campus’s 94 exterior doors to a smaller, more secure set of entrances.
County staff said the commission should not vote to commit funds on Nov. 3 because the Local Government Commission (LGC) must review proposed borrowing. "We have a call next week with the local government commission staff," finance staff said, and recommended the board consider formal action at its Nov. 17 meeting after that consultation. County staff added that if LGC timing requires it, the county might temporarily front funds to avoid delaying the contractor’s Dec. 2025 start, but any such step would be coordinated with LGC staff.
No county appropriation was made Nov. 3; commissioners and staff agreed to return the item for a formal vote after the LGC review.
Why it matters: The county’s vote would create a major capital commitment and long‑term debt for a large school project. The board’s decision will affect county borrowing, debt service and the timing of construction.
Sources: Presentation and public record from the Nov. 3, 2025 Johnston County Board of Commissioners meeting; statements by Dr. David Pierce, Marty Moser and Barnhill Building Group staff.
