CHANDLER — A member of the Brownsboro Independent School District’s Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee said he believes the group is split on whether officials should focus first on building two new elementary schools or replacing the high school — if a tax election in November is successful.

“The things I hear the most are that we need two elementary schools and a new high school, depending on whose kids go to which school,” Gene Giger, a Chandler City Council member, said. “There’s no question that Brownsboro Elementary needs to be replaced first. Then, it comes down to Chandler Elementary and the junior high.”

Theoretical construction costs and other financial scenarios related to district’s expansion efforts were released on March 22 by Texas School Planning President Dr. Arnold Oates during a committee meeting at Chandler Intermediate School.

The exhaustive report shows five options for building, expanding, and renovating the district’s six campuses. Among them includes constructing a 212,000-square-foot high school that would include a fine-arts auditorium and athletic support facilities “with a core for 1,200 students and academic areas for 1,000 students.”

Giger said he liked neither that scenario nor the four others presented by Oates.

“But he said we don’t have to accept any of these, so I really haven’t made up my mind. We’ve got to have a plan that says we are going to do this today and the next thing will be this. We will have to choose a scenario or a combination of scenarios and prioritize them.”

Leon Johnson of Southwest Securities Group of Dallas distributed a 10- page report outlining three bond-impact assumptions. It’s estimated that a 30-year bond at $20 million would increase property taxes on a $100,000 house from $969 to $1,141.25.

Comparatively, a 25- year bond at $20 million would increase property taxes on a $100,000 house from $969 to $1,157.52. At $25 million, property taxes on a $100,000 house would increase from $969 to $1,203.22.

A 35-year bond at $20 million would increase property taxes on a $100,000 house from $969 to $1,130.18.

The advisory committee of more than 60 people, charged with finding the most ideal and cost-effective way for the district to expand, has met four times since Feb. 22 and is scheduled to meet at least six more times over the next four months — including Monday at Brownsboro Junior High School, from 6 to 9 p.m.

An election is being planned for November, when voters will decide whether to raise taxes to finance improvements of some campuses or build others. Giger said Johnson advised the district not to seek more than $25 million.

“We’re approved for about $42 million, but I think we’d keep that extra money in reserve.”

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

“Planning Scenario Five” recommends converting Brownsboro Intermediate School to Brownsboro Elementary for grades prekindergarten through 5 and constructing, renovating or expanding classrooms by 25,000 square feet, with space for Pre-K through first grade, for 750 students.

Other recommendations include:

•Maintain Chandler Elementary to accommodate programs and increased enrollment. Upgrade student safety and security system, classrooms, paving, drainage, air conditioning and heating, roof, and signs “as feasible” for 450 students.

•Maintain Chandler Intermediate School for grades 3 through 5. Construct, renovate, or expand classrooms by 4,500 square feet for 500 students.

•Convert Brownsboro High to Brownsboro Junior High for grades 6 through 8 for 800 students.

•Improve all campuses with new paving and drainage.

Committee members have toured each campus in Brownsboro and at least one of the two in Chandler. Oates has said the committee appeared especially bothered by conditions at Brownsboro Elementary and Brownsboro Junior High.

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.

“If we move (a campus), what are we going to do with the footprint it’s on?” Giger said. “Are we going to do this on current school land or purchase land? How much is the infrastructure going to cost — the roads, sewer and water, parking lots, and power? The basic cost goes way up quickly.”

The estimated cost for the five scenarios is between $40.5 million and $57.4 million. The fifth scenario has a projected cost of $54.7 million.

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, Brownsboro Junior High, Brownsboro High, and other facilities.

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 Farmto Market Road 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 student athletes are inadequate and outdated.

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

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.