Barry Honeycutt, principal of South Johnston High School, is leaving the post late in his fourth year of work there. Come March 1, Honeycutt, 44, will transfer to an energy-management job in the school district's Facility Services department.

Jerry Smith, the retired former principal of Clayton High School, will step in as interim principal at South Johnston.

"I just felt like for me, personally, it was a good decision," said Honeycutt, who also attended South as a student. "It was a good time to step back from being principal."

In his new duties, which aren't yet fully defined, Honeycutt will help increase energy efficiency in the schools. He said he wouldn't call himself an expert, but pointed to his 15 years of teaching agriculture as relevant experience.

Honeycutt grew up in McGee's Crossroads and was also principal of Benson Middle School for two years.

The midyear timing of the move was a result of circumstance, he said.

"I don't know that it is a great time to make a change," Honeycutt said. "This is the timing that came about."

He declined to discuss the motivation for the transfer, which he said he requested.

"I'm not going to go into that," Honeycutt said. "That's kind of a personal thing."

The Johnston County Board of Education approved the transfer after a closed session last Tuesday.

The energy-management position isn't new, but has been vacant for a few years, said schools spokeswoman Terri Sessoms. "We've been looking at ways to reduce our energy cost for some time," she said. "There's definitely been some interest in having some oversight with this for some time."

Sessoms confirmed that Honeycutt had expressed interest in the position and asked for a change.

He will work his last day at South Johnston on Feb. 26.

"There were so many special kids there," he said. "It's a great community, and it's a great school. I hate to leave, because of those things -- I just needed to make a decision."