District overview
Booker ISD
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
A small district with fewer students and a deficit budget
Booker ISD is a two-school district in Booker, in Lipscomb County in the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle. Kirksey Elementary serves Pre-K to 5th grade and Booker Junior High/High School serves grades 6 to 12. Like other Texas districts, most of its money comes from local property taxes plus state aid, and state aid depends on how many students attend. Enrollment fell from 336 in October 2025 to 300 in October 2026. For 2026-27 the board adopted a budget with a 69,291 deficit and a total tax rate of .2204 per 00 of property value. The district's tax notice shows state money is the larger share: about $13,581 per student from the state and $3,986 per student from local taxes at the proposed rate.
Tax rate
$0.7954 for operations plus $0.425 for bond debt, $1.2204 total, adopted August 25, 2026, up from $1.1917 last year. The district's tax notice estimated taxes on an average home would still fall, from $499.52 to $362.96.
Deficit budget
The 2026-27 budget spends $169,291 more than it brings in, down from about $214,000 in the first draft. The district estimated about $3.2 million left in its operating fund balance.
Fewer students
300 students in October 2026 (137 at Kirksey, 163 at the JH/HS), down from 336 a year earlier.
2024 bond
.76 million in school building bonds (Series 2024), paid off by 2034. About .1 million was left for projects in July 2026.
The district earned a perfect 100 (A, Superior Achievement) on the state's FIRST financial rating for 2023-24 data, and the board kept the teacher pay scale and raised the employer health insurance contribution in 2026-27.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Band hall renovation (2024 bond)
design underwayThe board chose to reinforce the band hall walls (estimated 10,000) rather than rebuild (about .8 million), hired Parkhill as architect, and is picking interior finishes. A mechanical engineer was to look at heating and air.
- Contract with previous architect dissolved
- Board picks reinforce-and-renovate option
- Parkhill architect contract approved
- Interior samples chosen with architect
Funding
2024 school building bonds
Swimming pool repairs
nearly doneThe indoor pool used for elementary swimming lessons was down from spring 2026. The board added 5,000 for repairs in October 2026; the pool was ready for water and waiting on two heaters.
- Board reviews pool repair quotes
- $55,000 budget amendment approved
Funding
2026-27 budget amendment
Superintendent succession
in progressJH/HS principal Pablo De Santiago was named superintendent-elect and is attending first-time superintendent training in 2026-27. Michael Lee remains superintendent; no change date is in the minutes.
- De Santiago named superintendent-elect
Funding
Not applicable
JET grant nursing program
equipment deliveredA grant to turn a JH/HS classroom into a student hospital room with a virtual-anatomy table for a nursing program.
- Grant fee and match approved
- Medical equipment delivered
- Medical room ready
Funding
JET grant, with a $17,806 district match
Recent news
View the news feed →Resources
Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Board agendas and minutes posted on bookerisd.net (November 2025 to October 2026), plus district postings: the district and campus improvement plans, the District of Innovation plan, 2024-25 state performance reports (TAPR), 2025 federal report cards, the FIRST financial rating, the 2025 annual local debt report, the annual investment report, the proposed tax rate notice, the wellness plan and the May 2027 election posting.
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