Bond & VATRE 2022

As the community has grown through economic development and new residents, Lockhart ISD has also grown. The $71 million bond would provide for the purchase of land for a proposed elementary school #6, the construction of the proposed elementary school #6, and a new wing at Lockhart High School to support 500 more students. If approved, the construction would be completed in approximately two years.

In 2024, Carver Early Education Center, Bluebonnet Elementary School, Navarro Elementary School, and Alma Brewer Strawn Elementary will have exceeded maximum facility capacity. Clear Fork Elementary has already exceeded maximum capacity, and in two years, it will be at 126%. Lockhart High School is also already over maximum capacity, and in two years, it will be at 110%. The bond would alleviate overcrowding at elementary schools and Lockhart High School. 
 

The Penny Put-Back through VATRE would enable voters to put back a penny into the maintenance and operations part of the school tax rate after the Texas Education Agency decreased the rate by 1.74 pennies for 2022.

Since 2018, the school district has decreased its overall school tax rate by 20 pennies. If voters do not approve the Penny Put-Back through the VATRE, the school tax rate would decrease by an additional 1.74 pennies. If the voters approve the Penny Put-Back through the VATRE, it would still decrease the school tax rate by .74 pennies, putting back a penny into the maintenance and operations tax rate, resulting in approximately $1 million the district intends for school safety enhancements and competitive teacher pay. 
 

The Bond:

If approved by voters, the Bond  will provide Lockhart ISD with the funding to: 

1. Purchase land for the development of a proposed elementary school #6.
2. Construct the proposed elementary school #6 to support 500 more students.
3. Construct an additional wing at Lockhart High School to support 500 more students.

The new elementary school will alleviate the immense overcrowding and rapid growth at LISD elementary schools, while the high school addition will provide more classroom space for Lions to learn on a single campus  -- all at NO school tax rate increase to voters.

The Penny Put-Back through a VATRE:

If approved by voters, the Penny Put-Back through a VATRE will provide Lockhart ISD with greater funding to put towards student safety on campus and LISD teachers and staff with competitive pay, comparable to other top-performing Central Texas school districts.

Portables are a cost to taxpayers.

Since 2019, Lockhart ISD has spent $1,954,112 of taxpayer money from the district's Maintenance & Operations budget on portable buildings to support the rapid increase in student population.

Portables limit how much LISD can invest in student services, staff pay, and campus upkeep.

Portables are paid for through the district's Maintenance & Operations (M&O) budget. The M&O budget also funds the purchase of necessary campus supplies (such as desks, computers, and more), teacher and staff salaries, student services, and all other costs that come with maintaining the school district. When the district pulls from this budget to build portables, it limits how much we can invest in Lockhart ISD students, staff, and campuses.

Portables may not be a long-term solution.

Currently, 24 classrooms are housed in 16 portable buildings across the school district. 

While portable buildings are a temporary fix, they may not be an effective long-term solution to support the rapid growth Lockhart ISD is experiencing. For example,  Lockhart High School, renovated since the 2014 bond, houses 12 classrooms in 7 portables on campus. Meanwhile, Alma Brewer Strawn Elementary, the school district's newest elementary school, has outgrown its campus capacity and now utilizes 2 portables for music, art, and special education classrooms and office space.

Portables may pose a safety risk to Lockhart ISD students and staff.

Portables are not connected to the main campus security system, may not be fenced-in, and may be easily accessed by individuals nearby the campus. Additionally, students and staff may be exposed to bad weather and/or seen by individuals outside the campus as they trek from the main building to their portable building.