Rotan ISD plans $7.5M bond for high school upgrades, teachers

ROTAN, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Rotan Independent School District (ISD) is calling for a bond election similar to one that voters turned down last November, with no votes and a slight margin of victory.

The $7.5 million proposed this time will be used to attract more teachers to the Rotan school district and renovate the high school campus.

The bond is split between propositions A and B. Superintendent Michael Rudewick says the housing plans are still developing, but gaining houses for teachers will help the district stay competitive.

“Proposition B is for teacher housing in the amount of $920,000, so we would like to acquire teacher housing to be able to recruit and retain quality teachers,” Rudewick said.

Rudewick said the biggest portion of the bond will go towards improving the high school and bringing the building up to code.

“That building currently is built to the code that was established when it was built, and we know that those building codes can change. And so, one of the things we’re looking to address is that ADA accessibility, as well as safety,” Rudewick explained.

Christina Dixon is a Rotan alumna who supports the bond. She sees its benefits, remembering her time at Rotan.

“A bunch of our teachers were also coaches, so you had them out for sports and UIL events and stuff. So, we had a lot of substitutes sometimes; it just depended on what time of the year it was. Specifically, this time of the year,” Dixon said. “[I hope it] just makes people more comfortable; just gets everything up to date, makes it more accessible for our students, and just kind of invests in our education and gives them more opportunities to do what they want to do.”

If approved, the bond will increase taxes by 3.5 cents for residents with a homestead value exceeding $100,000. Renovations can happen over the summer with minimal disruption to the school year.