Johnston County -- If approved by voters, the next bond issue in Johnston County would build two elementary schools and two middle schools.

One elementary school would be near Micro, while the other would relieve crowding at Polenta and West Clayton elementary schools. One of the middle schools would be in the Powhatan community, while the other would sit between the fast-growing Clayton and Cleveland communities.

In all, school leaders have identified $150 million worth of building needs by 2014. They plan to ask commissioners for bond referendums in 2009 and 2011.

The 2009 bond would be $80 million, and in addition to the four new schools, it would include $1 million additions and renovations at all six high schools, a $3.5 million addition at North Johnston Middle, and a $3 million addition at River Dell Elementary.

In 2011, the $70 million bond would include money for a northwest Clayton elementary school and a Four Oaks area high school. West Smithfield, Benson and Dixon Road elementary schools would each get $3 million additions, and Four Oaks Middle would get a $5 million addition.

Each bond package also includes $3 million for technology.

Board member Larry Strickland wanted to know why the North Johnston area would be getting a new elementary school and an addition at the middle school instead of a new middle school. The plan had been to build a new middle school and remodel the existing middle school into an elementary. He said he thought North Johnston Middle’s small campus and traffic issues made it a poor candidate for expansion.

“In looking at access out of that school as far as 301 or 95 there, in looking at the overall issues with the size of the school, we believe there will be ample opportunity to get kids in and out of that school,” Superintendent Anthony Parker said. “I think down the road we are going to have to have a middle school in that area.”