JCPS Breaks Ground On Innovative Additions To Cooper Academy

CLAYTON – On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) broke ground on new additions to Cooper Academy. Current students and their parents, former students, community members, members of the Johnston County Board of Education, and Johnston County Commissioners were there to join in the celebration.

The additions project contains two major components. First, over 39,000 square feet will be added to the campus providing 20 new classrooms and other support areas, drastically boosting the student capacity to 883 students. The second component will include an enclosed corridor, creating indoor access to all campus buildings, including the cafeteria and gymnasium.

“We are thrilled to break ground on this project to enhance Cooper Academy’s future while preserving its historical past,” said JCPS Chief of Facility Design and Construction Brooks Moore. “Construction on an existing campus always provides an excellent opportunity to engage with students and staff,” Moore said. “ We began with a workshop, which included students, staff, and stakeholders, to learn their highest priorities, and the enclosed connector was at the top of the list for both groups.” The enclosure is particularly significant as it will keep students, staff, and families secure and out of the elements as they navigate around different areas of the school.

Johnston County Board of Commissioners Chair Butch Lawter was a student at Cooper Academy, as were his children. Lawter was also the PTA president for two years. “The roots of Cooper Academy run deep,” he said, “and it’s wonderful to see what the school has become.”

Lawter spoke of change, not just for the school, but also of the process. “This is a big change, and that change also goes in the relationship between the school board, county commissioners, school staff, leadership, and county leadership,” he remarked. “There has been change that I think has helped bring this forward.” Lawter commended the Johnson County Board of Education and JCPS staff on their innovation and seeking change to make things better for all JCPS students.

For Cooper Academy Principal Jamie Stoke, it was a pivotal day for everyone at the school. “This groundbreaking ceremony is an exciting new chapter in the rich history of our school community,” he said. “The new classroom spaces will help us keep up with the population growth in the town of Clayton for years to come.” Right now, no one is more thrilled than the children of Cooper Academy. When asked if they were excited about the additions, the first-grade student ambassadors let out a resounding, “Yes!” Stoke shared, “Just having the construction crew and equipment on site has already sparked some interest in possible career paths for our young children.”

Cooper Academy’s additions have come to fruition through the collaborative efforts of the school system, local governing bodies, and voting constituents. The Cooper Academy additions project is funded by the 2022 bond referendum. A bond referendum is a voting process that gives voters the power to decide if a municipality should be authorized to raise funds through the issuance of general obligation bonds.