District overview
Fowler School District No. R-4J
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Fowler School District paid for?
Fowler School District R-4J is a small rural district in Otero County, Colorado, with an elementary school, a junior high and a high school and about 313 students. A five-member board elected by district hires the superintendent, Alfie Lotrich, and approves the budget each June. Funding comes mainly through the state school-finance formula, which pays per student, plus local property taxes, and the district pays off a voter-approved bond with a separate bond mill levy.
Property tax rate for 2026
The board set the total mill levy at 39.075 mills, down 1.25 mills from 2025; the bond levy fell from 13.325 to 12.000 mills.
Audit
The FY25 audit was finished on time and the state school finance office sent a commendation letter.
Building money
State BEST grant reimbursement of about $365,000 was moved to the building fund in November 2025; a list of ways to use the remaining building fund balance was reviewed in March 2026.
Enrollment
313 students on the October 1, 2026 count, against a three-year average of about 326.
The collected records do not include the 2026-27 budget totals, so total revenue and spending are not shown here.
Where the district stands
Major projects
North Campus improvements (Master Plan)
design stage; grant funding being soughtThe district hired an engineering and surveying firm to prepare surveys and 50% site, civil and construction documents for possible north campus work.
- Preliminary talks with a possible grant writer
- First meeting with a civil engineering firm
- NorthStar proposal presented
- Board approves hiring NorthStar
Funding
Outside grants being sought; cost not in the record
Recent news
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from the board's agendas and approved minutes posted in public Google Drive folders on the district website, November 2025 to November 2026.
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