Brea Olinda board appoints executive assistant, adopts budget and approves vendor and curriculum agreements

The Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education appointed Shannon Ames as executive assistant to the superintendent effective July 1, 2025, and approved the district's 2025'26 budget along with a slate of curriculum adoptions and vendor agreements, the board said at its regular meeting.

Shannon Ames, who the board appointed in closed session, thanked the board and community, noting she was raised in the area and has worked in the district for more than two decades. "I'm truly honored and excited to step into this new role as executive assistant to the superintendent," she said.

Why this matters: the appointment fills an executive-level support role for the superintendent and the board, the budget adoption sets the district's spending priorities for the coming year, and the procurement and curriculum approvals enable classroom materials, technology and operational contracts to move forward before the new school year.

Votes at a glance - Appointment of Shannon Ames as executive assistant to the superintendent (effective 07/01/2025): approved (vote recorded as 4 ayes, 0 nays; Trustee Becerra absent). - 2025'26 budget: adopted (voice vote recorded unanimous where noted). - Resolution 25-17 (Community Facilities District No. 95-1, Olinda Heights budget and related documents): passed by roll call (4 ayes, 0 nays). - Resolution 25-18 (temporary interfund transfers): passed by roll call (4 ayes, 0 nays). - Resolution 25-19 (budget transfers): passed (roll call recorded unanimous where noted). - Multiple curriculum and instructional-material agreements (GoMath, Houghton Mifflin/Concord collections for grades 9'11, Benchmark K'6, McGraw Hill 7'8 social studies, TeachTown special education curriculum, Renaissance licensing): approved (motions carried by recorded unanimous voice votes). - Vendor and service agreements (PlaceWorks environmental consultant selection via RFQ, Coast Arbor landscaping/drainage work, EMS Link nutrition management platform, food vendors including Sunrise Produce, Driftwood Dairy and Gold Star Foods, school furniture for the VAPA program): approved (motions carried unanimous where recorded).

PlaceWorks selection and next steps Business services staff described an RFQ that drew nine submissions and recommended PlaceWorks as the district's environmental consultant for Measure H and other identified projects. Staff said there is no immediate cost on tonight's agenda and that PlaceWorks will return with project-level cost estimates when each project is identified.

Superintendent's highlights Superintendent Brenda opened her report by reading the district mission: "We are a devoted educational community that develops our students to become local and global influencers through dynamic learning experiences." She highlighted CDS summer programs, specialty camps (art and Spanish), preschool and teen camps, and a robotics camp for fifth- and sixth-graders led by Scott Johnson and Matt Viles.

Donations and student supports The consent calendar included multiple donations and scholarship support noted by staff, including a reported $7,500 donation for three batting machines and a $1,000 donation to the BOHS baseball team; staff recorded additional smaller gifts and program scholarships on the agenda.

What's next Staff noted the district office will be closed July 3 and July 4 for the holiday. The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for July 24, with a workshop on August 8 and staff returning August 12. The first regular board meeting of the school year is set for August 24.

The board concluded the meeting with a brief recognition of outgoing executive assistant Annette Aurora and a moment of celebration for a trustee's birthday.