Brea Olinda board directs staff to prepare $160 million Prop 39 bond measure after tracking poll shows majority support

The Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education on Monday directed staff to prepare a resolution that would place a general obligation bond on the November ballot, following a presentation of a tracking survey that indicated broad voter support.

Tim McClarny, president of True North Research, told the board the tracking poll returned an initial support reading of 66% on a 75‑word ballot statement, an interim reading of 68% after additional information and roughly mid‑60s support after testing typical opposition arguments — all figures above the 55% threshold required for a Prop 39 bond. McClarny said the research included 405 completed interviews, was conducted in English, Spanish and Korean, and has a margin of error of ±4.8 percentage points.

"At every point we circled back — initial, interim and final ballot tests — support remained north of the 55% threshold even after testing opposition arguments," McClarny said.

Superintendent Brenda and consultants Charles Heath and Blake Boehm outlined a likely measure concept and financing assumptions tied to a $39 per $100,000 assessed valuation tax rate, which the team modeled to correspond roughly to $230 per year for the median homeowner and an authorization amount in the $160 million range. Boehm said the district expects a multi‑series issuance plan to comply with IRS spend‑down rules and to provide flexibility for project phasing.

Trustees asked detailed questions about tax‑rate sensitivity, how the ballot title and language are chosen to help voters scan a crowded ballot, and the continued relevance of the district’s 2018 facility master plan. Several trustees cautioned that while polling is encouraging, the electoral climate this November could be partisan and produce headwinds.

"This looks feasible, but it will require continued robust outreach and engagement," McClarny said, citing the risk of a hyperpartisan presidential election cycle.

The board did not adopt a resolution at the meeting but voted collectively to have staff bring back finalized ballot language, a project list and a resolution for the board’s July 18 meeting to meet the county qualifying deadline. The consultants noted that if the board moves forward the district will then enter an independent advocacy phase where the district cannot use public resources to advocate for the measure.

Next steps: staff will finalize the resolution, ballot language and project list for board consideration on July 18. If the board adopts the resolution, the district will coordinate an informational outreach program while an independent campaign committee would lead advocacy.