WHEELER, McCOOL AND PETRIE TOUR NEW JOHNSON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, DISCUSS CONTINUED FUNDING NEEDS

PHOTO CUTLINE: From left, Sen. Phillip Wheeler, Rep. Bobby McCool, Johnson County Board of Education Chair Bob Hutchison, Johnson County Schools Superintendent Thom Cochran, and Rep. Jason Petrie visit the site of the new Johnson Central High School.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2026) — Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, joined Rep. Bobby McCool, R-Van Lear, and House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, for a tour of the new Johnson Central High School and Career and Technical Center to see the progress underway and discuss the continued funding needs associated with completing the project.

Johnson County Schools Superintendent Thom Cochran and Johnson County Board of Education Chair Bob Hutchison joined lawmakers during the visit, providing an update on construction and discussing the district’s vision for the new facility.

“I’m grateful to Chairman Petrie for taking the time to come to Johnson County and see firsthand both the progress being made and the continued needs of the district,” Wheeler said. “It is meaningful for eastern Kentucky to have the chairman here on the ground, listening to our local leaders and seeing why this project matters. I remain committed to working to secure the funding needed to see this project through to completion.”

The new Johnson Central High School is being constructed outside the 100-year floodplain and will bring traditional high school education and career and technical education together on one campus. Plans for the facility include 35 career pathways designed to prepare students for college, technical training and careers after graduation.

The project is among seven school construction projects across Kentucky seeking additional assistance through the School Facility Assistance Fund. The General Assembly established the fund in 2024 to assist school districts facing significant construction costs and other challenges associated with completing critical facility projects.

Johnson County has already received state support to move construction forward, but additional funding is needed to complete the district’s plans for the new campus fully.

McCool, whose district includes Johnson County, said bringing Petrie to the site gave state budget leaders a chance to see firsthand both the investment already made and the remaining needs.

“This is a significant investment in the students and families of Johnson County, and we need to make sure we see it through,” said Rep. Bobby McCool. “The progress on this new campus is exciting, but there is still work to be done. Bringing Chairman Petrie here to see the project firsthand was important because it gives him a better understanding of what this school will mean for our students and the opportunities it will provide them for years to come.”

Wheeler also recognized Hutchison, a longtime friend and mentor, for his years of work on behalf of the school district and the new high school project.

“Bob Hutchison has been a lifelong friend and mentor to me, and he has been a tireless advocate for this project and for the students of Johnson County,” Wheeler said. “He has put an incredible amount of time and effort into making this new school a reality. I am determined to show that same level of commitment as we continue working in Frankfort to secure the resources needed to finish the job.”

The lawmakers said they will continue working with Johnson County Schools and local leaders as discussions surrounding the project and future state funding continue.

###

Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, represents Kentucky’s 31st Senate District, including Elliott, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, and Pike Counties. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committees on Economic Development and Workforce Investment and on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology. Wheeler also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Judiciary; Natural Resources and Energy; and Transportation. Additionally, he is a member of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee and is a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection.