Lawrence schools add solar panels at Woodlawn Elementary this summer

Woodlawn Elementary’s new solar array is expected to start lowering Lawrence Public Schools’ utility bills immediately, and district leaders say the system could pay for itself in about 10 years after tax credits. That kind of savings can help ease pressure on operating budgets that affect classroom supplies, maintenance and other day-to-day school costs.

The Lawrence Board of Education approved the Woodlawn contract in April, and installation is planned for this summer. The project will make Woodlawn the district’s third campus with solar panels, following Prairie Park Elementary in 2024 and Sunflower Elementary in 2025.

Woodlawn’s system is expected to produce 40 kilowatts at peak output, smaller than the earlier installations but still part of a plan district leaders say they want to repeat whenever roofs and budgets allow. Deputy Superintendent Larry Englebrick said the push grew out of the Futures Planning Committee, a 39-member group of community members, teachers, staff and administrators whose solar recommendation received 87% support.

Woodlawn was a strong candidate after the district replaced the gym roof last year, leaving a large open area suitable for panels. That roof work helped clear one of the biggest barriers to solar installation: a surface ready to support the equipment for years without major replacement work.

District leaders have tied the solar projects to both finances and instruction. Lawrence Public Schools says each solar-equipped school is connected to software that lets students and teachers monitor electricity generation in real time, turning the arrays into a classroom data source for graphing, analysis and lessons on energy use.

The earlier projects showed the scale of what the district hopes to gain. Prairie Park Elementary’s 2024 installation, the district’s first, used 250 panels, cost about $240,000 and was expected to cover 22% of the school’s electrical needs. District officials also said it would keep more than 250 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted, a reduction they compared to planting about 1,500 trees.

With Woodlawn, Lawrence Public Schools is treating solar as more than a green-energy display. The district is building a recurring strategy that aims to reduce long-term utility costs, support classroom learning and put school facilities to work for taxpayers and families over the long haul.