Teague Forcing Superintendent Elton Caldwell into possible retirement even before the Brownsboro Independent School District sets a November tax election was a mistake, Board of Trustees President Bobby Teague said.

“He has done an excellent job not only in the school system but also in the community,” he said. “He’s an ethical, moral and highly professional individual. This is not a proper time to change leadership with the impending bond issue. Mr. Caldwell has experience with bonds.”

Four board members voted on Jan. 18 not to extend Caldwell’s contract, with two others — Teague and Vice President Dusty Wise — voting against the move. Caldwell, 70, has about 18 months remaining on his current deal, but he has said he may retire before it expires.

“Everyone has the right to their own opinion, and everyone on that board has a right to vote how they feel,” Teague said.

Becky Grantham, Jeffrey Fulgham, Donny Wilson, and Ricky Wyatt voted not to extend Caldwell’s contract. Joel Irwin was absent. Teague and Wise, with a combined 21.5 years, are the board’s longest-serving members.

If Caldwell retires before the end of his two-year contract, the district would be forced to begin a premature search for a new superintendent. Teague said if Caldwell leaves before the November election, it would spell trouble for district officials.

“It would be a mess,” he said. “I don’t know what Elton is thinking, but I’ll tell you this: I’ve served under nine superintendents, and Mr. Caldwell is at the top of that list. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve not heard anything about him that was in a negative connotation.”

Teague has been with the district for 28 years, the last 11 as a board member. He said Caldwell’s replacement will likely cost the district more money.

“His salary is not in the top echelon of our area. The next superintendent is going to cost substantially more. I just don’t think we can hire someone with experience for what Mr. Caldwell is paid.”

Caldwell’s contract calls for a salary of $108,050.

He took over the district in 1989. During his tenure, three schools - Chandler Intermediate, Brownsboro Intermediate and Brownsboro High - have been built and numerous improvements made to Chandler Elementary School, Brownsboro Elementary School and Brownsboro Junior High School.

An advisory committee of more than 60 members is scheduled to meet Feb. 15 as Dr. Arnold Oates of Texas School Planning provides a list of scenarios for how the district could use a bond proposal to finance new construction across the district.

The oldest of the district’s six campuses - Brownsboro Elementary, Chandler Elementary, Brownsboro High, and Brownsboro Junior High School — need extensive renovations or expansions. The elementary schools, though, are in the worst condition of the four and expanding them again does not appear to be feasible.

Chandler Elementary was built in 1969 and expanded five times between 1977 and 1995. Brownsboro Elementary was built in 1968, and it was expanded four times between 1972 and 1995.

While the Chandler campus could expand again if it removes its playground area, Brownsboro Elementary cannot even do that. The school is situated between the district administration building and other facilities to the east, Brownsboro Junior High to the south, and Brownsboro High School to the west.

Brownsboro High School is the youngest campus of the group. Built in 1987, it has been expanded just once and appears to be in the best condition. Brownsboro Junior High was built in 1981 and has never been expanded.

All four schools are at capacity.

At Chandler Elementary, limited parking areas for buses and other vehicles is always a concern, with traffi c usually stalling on FM 315 during drop-off and pick-up times.

Like the other schools, it has run out of classroom space and its cafeteria is too small. Multiple access points to the building also pose safety risks.

At Brownsboro Elementary, the campus has simply outgrown itself. It has no room to expand a fifth time, and district and school offi- cials have acknowledged a new campus is needed.

Students at Brownsboro Junior High have their own issues. They must cross Ingram Street to attend classes at buildings that share the same property with the district administration building, and band students have to cross a field and a loading and unloading zone to reach the band hall at Brownsboro High.

At the high school, its athletic facilities and instruction space for studentathletes are inadequate and outdated.

A number of options would be available to the district, including building two new elementary schools and a high school, and increasing the number of students who attend its two intermediate schools.

But new construction would require more land and utilities, both of which could be barriers in the district’s capital-improvements plan.

The district owns a 52- acre tract of land west of Brownsboro where a campus could be built.

While some voters may prefer a new high school between Chandler and Brownsboro, it might be difficult for the district to acquire enough land in that area for construction.

Texas School Planning was hired last October to consult the district on its capital-improvements plan. District officials have reported the student population has increased by about 60 percent over the last 20 years — a rate of 3 percent annually.