ROSEBUD-LOTT, Texas (KWTX) – From floors to air conditioning units to the railroad tracks, many areas of Rosebud Lott ISD have not seen significant improvements over the past 30 years simply because they did not have the necessary funds.

However, thanks to new solar parks In the area where taxes can actually help pay for school bonds, the district was able to propose a $25 million bond at no additional cost to district taxpayers.

In this last election, voters in the Rosebud Lott School District had to decide whether or not to approve two separate proposals for this bond.

According to their superintendent, Dr. Jim Rosebrock, Proposition A was the larger of the two, at approximately $23.4 million.

“It was primarily looking at new construction to meet some growing needs, particularly in the area of ​​college and career readiness, as well as some much-needed renovations,” he said.

While Proposal B, which came to about $1.5 million, would pay off existing debt for previous renovations.

“These things we paid for to maintain and operate, but a bond would allow us to transfer them to the I&S side,” explained Dr. Rosebrock, “which the solar farms could then have paid for, freeing up about $400,000 per year”. year that we could have used to pay teachers’ salaries.

Proposal A passed with 861 votes in favor and 814 against. However, proposition B was not adopted with 838 votes against and 812 for, a difference of 26 votes.

“I think it’s more of a misunderstanding than anything else and it’s completely understandable because of how difficult it is to fund public schools,” Dr. Rosebrock said.

They could put Proposition B back on the ballot in May, Dr. Rosebrock said. For now, they’re just excited to start moving forward with their long list of improvements at the district’s three schools…which, for the first time, will be funded primarily by local solar farms.

“This is a unique opportunity for this school district to benefit from the influx of tax dollars from solar farms that will fund up to 64 percent of this bond,” he explained.

Dr. Rosebrock says this will help his district achieve its goal of helping students succeed, sharing that “for generations to come, we will have facilities and programs that we can offer so that our students can compete not only at the local level, but at the global level.”

They already have a list of priorities that they will present to the school board at its next meeting on November 18.

Once that’s approved, they’ll start selling bonds in January or February and could begin some of the smaller renovations right away.

For more information on the school district’s 2024 school bond, click here.

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