From: lubbockonline.com
Several items were up for discussion and approved by the Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District Board of Trustees, including its $129 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
While the district’s 2026-27 budget was the focal point of the trustees’ regularly scheduled meeting on June 19, district leaders also approved a few personnel changes, including
This meeting marked the last time Superintendent Keith Bryant, who is set to retire at the end of this month, was to participate in a meeting, as newly hired Superintendent Aaron Waldrip will step into his position.
Here are three other things you need to know from the LCISD school board meeting.
A trustee steps back and a new one is appointed
One of the items that the trustees unanimously agreed to was to accept the resignation of Ursula Caswell, trustee for Place 6.
The reason for Caswell’s resignation was not made immediately known. Her term was set to expire in 2026.
However, after thanking Casewell for her service, the trustees unanimously appointed Trey Strong, owner of Trey Strong Custom Homes in Lubbock, to take her seat.
Trustees approve three school budgets totaling $129 million
There are three budgets the trustee approved — its debt service, food and general operation budgets that total $129 million.
While the debt service budget will see an over $475,000 budget surplus, the other two will not.
The general operating budget sees a $5.1 million deficit
Approving to operate in the red next year, trustees approved a $4.8 million increase to Instruction Expenses in the 2026 budget from 2025. This is partially due to House Bill 2 — the teacher pay increase bill.
It also stems from a conversation the trustees had during their Budget Workshop on June 12, during which they consented to giving all staff not covered under the HB2 pay raise and who aren’t administrators a 3% pay increase.
Those people include custodians, ground crew members, bus drivers and other employees.
In short, the school district is estimating $84,989,192 in revenue next year — pending property tax evaluations — with $90,123,171 in expenses that would cover everything not related to food or debt services.
“The deficit is not a great position, but I am confident we can get it where we need to be next year,” Waldrip said.
Creating a food deficit budget, possibly raising school lunch prices
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Personnel Danny Davis said the district’s Food Service Fund will run on a $452,887 budget deficit — but that’s on purpose.
The district received over $2 million from a federal government program coming out of the pandemic for the school’s food budget. However, schools can only keep three to six months’ worth of funds that balance, which prompted the districts to find ways to utilize that money.
Davis said the district opted to feed students for free the past few years, but now the funds are creeping closer to the needed fund balance of $500,000, prompting the district to look at campuses to start charging for lunches again.
The school district is also considering increasing the cost of school lunches from $3.25 to possibly $3.50 for the 2027 school year and adjusting its lunch charging policy for secondary students.
“Everyone knows food costs have gone up tremendously,” Davis said.
Possible tax rate increase for the school district?
The trustees approved an item that allows the district to engage in a preliminary study for a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election — also known as a VATRE.
Davis said the district is leaving three “golden pennies” on the table, which would equate to an additional $4 million in school funding from the state.
In short, the State of Texas allows schools to raise their Maintenance & Operation tax rate up to 17 cents in addition to the tax rate state lawmakers set for M&O.
Of the 17 cents, the first eight cents are considered “golden” as they earn a higher yield in funds matched by the state. Anything past the first eight is subject to state recapture—known as “Robin Hood”—and sees a lower state match.
Of the eight, the board can raise the tax rate by five cents — which is what LCISD is at. The other three cents must go before voters through a VATRE.
Also, M&O helps fund schools’ day-to-day operations while the other tax rate — Interest & Sinking (I&S) — can only help fund bonds for district capital projects.
However, the district must complete the efficiency audit for VATRE Consideration before it can decide to send it to voters and also, how much.