Johnson County High School Groundbreaking Celebrated by Legislative Leaders
Frankfort-Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville and Rep. Bobby McCool, R-Van Lear, joined Kentucky State Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester and House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, as well as local leaders and school officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Johnson County High School. The project marks the culmination of years of planning and historic investment by the Kentucky General Assembly, which has delivered over $75 million in funding to benefit Johnson County Schools and will continue to deliver funding in future years.
This support includes $39.1 million in the 2025 Regular Session (HJR 32) dedicated directly to Johnson County Schools for the construction of the new high school, nearly $1.3 million has been authorized, as part of the state’s road plan (HB 266, 2024 Regular Session), this summer for right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation to construct the campus access road connecting to KY 40 at mile point 8.85.
This will be followed by nearly $10 million to construct the new access road to the Johnson County Schools Campus in the 2025-2026 road plan for a combined investment of over $12 million, $10 million in 2021 (HB 556), the maximum amount available from a statewide $75 million fund established to upgrade local vocational education centers that provide job training and substance use disorder programs, and an additional $15 million in state funding has been appropriated towards the Johnson County High School project through the state’s “nickel program.” Since 2021, the General Assembly has matched the local community investment through the program which provides state-matching dollars to school districts that pass local facility taxes. This equalization ensures rural districts like Johnson County have the same opportunity to modernize schools as larger, wealthier districts. Those funds will increase with each year’s budget.
“Through the work of the Kentucky General Assembly, Rep. Bobby McCool, and strong legislative leadership, we’ve been able to invest more than $75 million in Johnson County Schools,” said Wheeler. “This groundbreaking shows what is possible when local leaders and the legislature share a common vision ensuring our students have the same opportunities as any child in Kentucky. This high school will stand as a symbol of that commitment for generations to come.”
“This new Johnson County High School will stand as a permanent symbol of the Kentucky General Assembly’s commitment to public education in eastern Kentucky and particularly to Johnson County,” said McCool. “Projects of this magnitude are not possible without a strong legislative team in place.
Senator Wheeler and I have worked together tirelessly to make sure that future generations of Johnson County students will not only have a place where they can excel in learning using the latest technology but also a facility of which they can be proud.”
The new Johnson County High School will feature modern classrooms and facilities, and expanded resources to meet the needs of students and teachers. Today’s groundbreaking marks a significant step forward for the district and reflects the General Assembly’s commitment to strengthening education in eastern Kentucky.
For more information about the Kentucky General Assembly, visit www.legislature.ky.gov.