Lubbock ISD wants voters to approve a $290 million bond to build three new elementary schools, expand a couple of middle schools, upgrade infrastructure, and improve career and technical education programs. Supporters include basically every PTA in town, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Realtors Association. Opponents include conservative PACs, Facebook warriors, and Jim Baxa—the homeschool dad who somehow got himself onto the Appraisal District board without opposition.
The fight has produced dueling yard signs, testy public forums, and the usual accusations: supporters call it a necessary investment, critics scream “boondoggle” and “tax hike,” despite the fact LISD’s portion of the tax rate hasn’t gone up since 2016. The district swears it’ll keep the rate steady, thanks to phased bond sales and early repayments. Detractors, meanwhile, warn that taxpayers are being bled dry by greedy contractors—never mind that some of the loudest voices opposing the bond own multiple rental properties.
Fueling the controversy is the fact that Superintendent Kathy Rollo’s husband works for Parkhill Smith & Cooper, a local architecture firm that has done school projects before. Cue conspiracy theories that the bond is really just a cash grab for connected insiders. The district points out that bids go through a public RFP process, but this is Lubbock—so the rumor mill spins louder than the facts.
Turnout so far has been dismal, as usual. In past bond elections, barely 1 in 10 voters bothered to show up, unless the proposition had something spicy attached—like banning abortion or selling alcohol. Schools, apparently, don’t get people as fired up. Meanwhile, LISD’s aging campuses are crumbling, enrollment is declining, and the kids stuck inside those buildings don’t exactly have the luxury of waiting for adults to finish arguing.
So, will Lubbock invest in its kids—or just keep investing in yard sign printers and Facebook flame wars? Judging by past elections, don’t bet on the classrooms winning.
