Brea Olinda board reviews Measure H plan, directs staff to return with architect contracts for junior high and campus upgrades

The Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday held a study session on Measure H-funded facilities projects, heard a detailed presentation on funding sources and project priorities, and directed staff to return to the board with architect contracts and next steps.

Superintendent Leon opened the presentation by asking for board guidance on bringing back “architectural agreements that will help us start moving the work forward with Brea Junior High School,” a project he described as a multi-year modernization effort tied to the bond voters approved in November. “So tonight, we will prioritize our projects,” Leon said.

Rick Champion, assistant superintendent for business, reviewed the district’s capital buckets and constraints, including the general fund’s routine maintenance requirement, developer fee revenues (Fund 25), a one-time capital facilities refund (Fund 35), a special capital reserve (Fund 40), Measure H bond proceeds and amounts in the district’s HOPE account. Champion said the district currently spends roughly “3%, roughly $3,000,000 annually on deferred maintenance” from the general fund and reiterated that some funds—such as developer fees—are legally restricted to facility uses.

Champion also flagged a timing change under Senate Bill 937 that shifts some developer-fee collections to the time of occupancy rather than permit issuance, creating short-term planning uncertainty for large, phased projects such as the Brea 265 development. “I feel our mitigation agreement supersedes, and the way we structured a mitigation agreement … allows us to take even a more accelerated process of collecting developer fees into the phases,” Champion said, and added staff will obtain legal advice on the point.

The presentation summarized proposed Measure H projects and recommended funding sources. Staff asked for direction to bring architect contracts back at the board’s next regular meeting for:

- Brea Junior High School modernization: preliminary architects’ options estimated an anticipated total project cost of about $119,000,000 and construction timelines of roughly 18–22 months once bid-ready documents are completed; the board unanimously signaled support to move forward with hiring an architect to begin the DSA/bid-ready process.

- Falcon Academy of Science and Technology: staff proposed a new multipurpose room and larger kitchen to replace the campus’s outdoor-only lunch and gathering spaces; trustees directed staff to return with an architect agreement.

- Brea Olinda High School (BOHS) path of travel and athletic-complex work: staff separated an ADA/DSA path‑of‑travel and geotechnical investigation as the prerequisite for future stadium, pool and tennis work. Staff recommended hiring architects and engineers to investigate subsurface movement around stadium seating and to develop bid-ready plans; trustees agreed that path-of-travel work must precede major field or stadium upgrades.

Staff also sought direction to proceed with architect work for Olinda Elementary expansion to accommodate expected enrollment from local development (Brea 265) and to replace aging portables and early‑education facilities at AeroVista. Crew and maintenance priorities such as summer deferred‑maintenance and asphalt, LED lighting and roofing repairs were presented as line items to be scheduled by season and funding availability.

On citizen oversight, staff said the district will solicit applications for the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee through Feb. 28 and present recommended appointments at the March 13 meeting. Champion outlined the committee’s minimum composition under Prop 39 (business, senior, taxpayer, parent/guardian, PTO plus two at-large seats), minimum two‑year terms, and required written annual audits.

Trustees repeatedly discussed trade-offs, project sequencing and escalation risk. Several trustees said they were uneasy about spending large sums on path-of-travel concrete work that is not “glamorous,” but acknowledged the work is required before stadium, pool and other upgrades can proceed. Trustee comments emphasized careful stewardship of public funds and a desire for continued transparency and frequent updates as architects and engineers produce bid-ready estimates.

The board gave staff direction to bring back architect contracts and related action items for the Brea Junior High, Falcon Academy multipurpose room, BOHS path-of-travel/athletic-complex scopes, Olinda Elementary expansion and AeroVista early-education replacements. Staff also said it will present the Performing Arts Center construction contract for board consideration on Feb. 20 after a successful rebid and with contingency built into the estimate.

What happens next: staff will secure architect agreements and begin geotechnical and DSA‑engagement work where required, then return to the board with bid-ready plans, cost estimates and recommended funding sources and phasing. The district will publish the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee application and return a slate of nominees for board approval in March. Trustees closed the meeting with community thanks to voters and a memorial note for longtime volunteer Coach Alex Gaspara.

Quotes used in this account are drawn directly from the board presentation and public discussion as recorded in the meeting transcript. The board’s direction at the study session was to move toward architect contracts and further investigation rather than final construction approvals; each major project will require separate board action when staff returns with bid-ready estimates or contract approvals.