Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010

New testaments to county's growth

Students began classes this week at two new Johnston high schools, a symbol of the residential growth that has transformed the western part of the county over the past two decades.

Cleveland and Corinth Holders high schools opened their doors today (Wednesday) for ninth- and 10th-graders. Countywide, more than 32,000 students are expected to stream into Johnston schools over the next couple of weeks.

The new high schools, which cost $45 million each, will ease crowded classrooms at Clayton and West Johnston high schools. Those schools have carried a heavy load as more families have moved to the eastern part of the Triangle. West Johnston, for example, was built for 1,600 students but has served about 2,200.

When West Johnston High opened in 2002, some school leaders were confident they had a handle on the influx of students, said Anne Meredith, principal at the new Cleveland High. "We thought we settled that problem," she said. "[But] it just started right up again."

The Cleveland community in western Johnston isn't an official town. But if it were to incorporate, its 2008 estimated population of 17,120 would make it the largest town in the county. In 2000, the community had a little more than 10,000 residents, according to the county planning department.

Rural northern Johnston County, home of the new Corinth Holders High School, has also seen steady growth. In 2008, the latest year for which population estimates are available from the planning department, the area had about 22,200 residents. Eight years before, it had about 15,300.

"It's just phenomenal," Johnston Superintendent Dr. Ed Croom said of the county's growth.

The new schools are designed to serve up to 1,200 students, which makes them smaller than other western Johnston high schools. That could mean the county will have to build more high schools soon if the population continues to swell.

County Commissioners Chairman Wade Stewart said he favors community high schools instead of larger, consolidated schools, even if it means the county will have to spend more money. Smaller schools allow students and parents to get more involved, Stewart said.

"It would be more expensive, but you get what you pay for," he said.

Breathing room

While Johnston has continued to grow, the recession slowed the tide of new residents, giving school leaders some breathing room. At the height of growth a few years ago, Croom said, the system gained about 1,500 students each year. Johnston schools are expecting 700 new students this year.

Like other school districts across the Triangle, Johnston schools are dealing with continued growth in the face of a tight budget. Schools in Johnston will gain 36 teachers because of the spike in student enrollment, said Robin Little, director of human resources for the school system. But school leaders fear the loss of $8 million in federal stimulus money next year. The money is paying the salaries of 330 school workers, Croom said.

At the end of this past school year, 45 school employees were laid off in Johnston, but as of last week, all but two had been offered their jobs back, Little said.

New and exciting

Some Cleveland High School students and their parents who attended orientation last week said they were excited about the chance to be part of a brand new school, with the latest classroom technology and shiny desks.

Shaniyah Dove, 14, of Clayton had planned to join the band's color guard at Clayton High School. Then she found out she lived within the new school's attendance boundary. At first, Dove said she had mixed feelings.

"But all of my friends are going to this school, so I don't really care," she said of Cleveland High. "I can tell I'm going to love this school."

Cleveland High is pulling many students from West Johnston, which has an award-winning band program. Lydia Cupit, 15, spent her freshman year in West Johnston's band but was forced to transfer to Cleveland this year.

"I was sad that we were leaving, but now that we're getting started I'm excited about our new band," Cupit said.