Imagine transforming sunshine into higher teacher salaries—sounds like magic, right?
For the Batesville School District in Arkansas, it’s become reality, turning a struggling budget into a thriving example for schools nationwide.
Turning Sunshine into Savings
Back in 2017, the Batesville School District, home to approximately 3,200 students, faced mounting financial pressures.
Energy bills exceeding $600,000 a year drained resources that could’ve otherwise been spent on attracting and keeping quality educators.
Enter Entegrity, a Little Rock-based energy efficiency firm, which presented the school with an exciting proposition: solar power.
The district learned they could save an astounding $2.4 million over 20 years by installing over 1,400 solar panels and updating their lights, heating, cooling, and windows. Superintendent Michael Hester instantly saw the possibilities.
“Let’s use that money to start pumping up teachers’ salaries,” Hester explained. “It’s the way we’re going to attract and retain staff—and attract students in this era of school choice.”
From Deficit to Surplus: The Solar Effect
Fast forward three years, and the decision has proven nothing short of revolutionary. The district slashed its annual energy use by 1.6 million kilowatt-hours, effectively erasing a daunting $250,000 deficit.
Even better?
They’re now enjoying a budget surplus of $1.8 million.
Thanks to these remarkable savings, Batesville teachers received raises averaging between $2,000 and $3,000 each.
This salary increase places educators in the district within the top quartile statewide—a major win for attracting talented staff.
Schools Leading the Way with Solar Power
Batesville isn’t alone. According to Generation 180, a clean-energy nonprofit, at least 7,300 schools across the U.S. now harness solar power, collectively saving money, educating students on renewable energy, and reducing harmful emissions.
With solar installations rising 81% since 2014, these schools have collectively cut enough greenhouse gas emissions to equal closing multiple coal-fired plants.
Generation 180’s report also highlights that most solar projects come with no upfront cost to schools, thanks to partnerships with energy developers.
“More than three-quarters of solar installed at schools isn’t coming out of school budgets,” notes Tish Tablan from Generation 180. Instead, developers typically finance, build, and maintain the solar arrays, passing immediate savings on to the schools.
A Community Embracing Change
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Batesville’s solar story is the unexpected community enthusiasm. Superintendent Hester initially worried about community pushback, particularly since the town is so close to Arkansas’ largest coal-fired power plant—a plant scheduled to close by 2030. But residents embraced the solar initiative wholeheartedly, proud of the district’s efficient use of tax dollars and supportive of transitioning toward sustainable solutions.
“People understand that coal plant has a limited life,” explained Hester. “When the community saw that solar energy could offset losses and sustain growth, it became a very pleasant surprise.”
The Ripple Effect: Inspiring Others
Batesville’s success sparked neighboring districts to follow suit. At least 20 schools nearby have started their own solar journeys, often working with Entegrity.
Rick Vance, Entegrity’s regional project manager, calls this the “boomerang effect,” noting that once communities realize solar is the cheapest energy source available—cheaper even than coal or gas—any initial skepticism typically fades.
A Brighter Future
Batesville’s solar-powered salary boost serves as an inspiring example nationwide, proving renewable energy isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for our communities, schools, and teachers too.
Could your local schools be next? Share this story and join the conversation on powering education through renewable energy!