Johnston County — Rumors are swirling, but Johnston school leader says there are no plans to close the AIG Center, the Smithfield campus where academically and intellectually gifted students take enhancement classes.

Keith Beamon, associate superintendent over curriculum and instruction with Johnston County Schools, said there have been informal talks about the center's future, but the focus is on expanding AIG offerings.

“The AIG Center will be there next year,” Beamon said. “There has been no decision to make any significant changes. We’ve tried to make it clear, it’s just discussion.”

Any decision would have to come before the school board, and Beamon said he is not ready to bring any proposal to the board for discussion.

Beamon said Superintendent Anthony Parker would make the call about whether a discussion of making changes at the center would be on the school board agenda in July or August. Parker was not immediately available for comment.

Beamon acknowledged that it is costly to transport children from across the county to the Smithfield center, and the rising cost of fuel hasn’t helped. But he said school leaders want to make AIG programs more available to students.

Check the June 25 issue of The Herald for an update to this story.