The first to open was the 1,100-student Ooltewah Elementary School in August 2013. When the $19.5 million school opened, it was the largest elementary school in the district. East Brainerd Elementary School will debut this August with the same 1,100-student capacity.

Later this month, county officials will unseal construction bids for the new Ganns Middle Valley Elementary School. It, too, is expected to hold roughly 1,000 students, and it will replace two of the county’s oldest school buildings: the 77-year-old Ganns Middle Valley Elementary and the 102-year-old Falling Water Elementary. The $27 million project is currently scheduled for a 2016 opening if the accelerated construction schedule is met, according to Times Free Press.

Additionally, the Hamilton County Department of Education hopes to build another 1,100-student elementary school to replace Alpine Crest, DuPont and Rivermont elementary schools.

While an increase in student population is driving these massive construction projects, the Basic Education Program, the state’s funding formula for public education, is another factor. Per the program, the state requires one teacher for every 20 children in kindergarten through third grade, which can be easier to balance with a larger school, Hamilton County Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Auxiliary Services Gary Waters told the Times Free Press on April 12.

The Times Free Press reported that there can also be disadvantages to the massive buildings, as elementary schools are seen as part of the community. With one centralized location for elementary schools, transportation and parent involvement can become an issue.

Despite potential disadvantages, there are also several advantages to building larger elementary schools. For instance, these schools are often less expensive to staff, operate and maintain. A larger school needs only one principal and one kitchen as opposed to the two principals and two kitchens needed for two smaller schools. East Brainerd Elementary School, designed by locally based TWH Architects Inc., will also feature a geothermal heating and cooling system, which will help cut the school’s utility bills in half.

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Construction advocates said a facilities bond is necessary to keep homes (somewhat) affordable in California and would strengthen the statewide economy, according to the Sacramento Business Journal. If the bond does not pass, school districts could force developers to pay for the entire cost of building new schools, which could halt residential homebuilding and increase the cost of homes by up to $10,000.

Funding for the state’s backlog of school construction projects would directly create 8,000 jobs, according to a study released earlier this month by the California Building Industry Association. A recent study from the Center for Strategic Economic Research showed that every $1 million used towards school construction gives back $1.1 million in economic output.

The bond unanimously passed the assembly in May, totaling $9 billion. However, that dollar figure was removed when the measure reached the Senate, as both houses and the Brown administration continue to negotiate. The bill will be discussed on the Senate floor next month, and supporters are hoping the governor will share his thoughts.

Gov. Brown has made several promises as part of his reelection campaign to cut the state’s debt. He has even acknowledged that he wants the state to play less of a role in school construction financing, but his administration has also not suggested an alternative.

The existing school facility program, administered by the California Department of General Services is currently over budget by more than $800 million, and that’s for projects that the state has approved to wait in line for funding, reported the Sacramento Business Journal. However, there are several other proposed projects that have yet to be developed.

The last statewide school bond approved by California voters was in 2006. School facilities funding is separate from regular public education spending, guaranteed in the state budget.

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