Antioch Unified outlines Measure B phases and financing plan; parents, teachers press to reprioritize Fremont work

Antioch Unified School District staff and the district's municipal adviser presented a multi‑phase implementation and financing plan for Measure B at the Aug. 7 board meeting, and faced questions from parents and teachers about how schools were prioritized.

District staff said Measure B projects would be grouped into three phases: Phase 1 estimated at $60–$75 million (including John Muir TK/K classrooms, Orchard Park gym and cafeteria work and deferred maintenance), Phase 2 roughly $95 million and Phase 3 $25–$40 million. The presentation emphasized that bond proceeds must be sized so the district can spend 85% of an issuance within three years to comply with federal tax rules.

Dave Olson, the district's municipal adviser, said the board could authorize an initial sale in early October and tentatively target closing by the end of October. Olson said staff modeled scenarios with interest assumptions up to about 5.5% and recommended structuring earlier issues to limit near‑term tax impacts, with an initial not‑to‑exceed issuance of $75 million under consideration.

At least three teachers and parents pressed the board to revisit the phase order. Amanda Frus, a Fremont Elementary teacher, told trustees the school lacks a safe pickup/drop‑off configuration, has failing turf, overcrowded classrooms and ongoing termite problems that have persisted for years. "Kids are tripping on the turf, classes are over capacity and our counselor has no confidential space," she said.

Board members said Phase 1 sites were selected in part because some locations have spaces ready for construction, allowing earlier starts, but acknowledged they could revisit phase sequencing for later issues. One trustee said staff plan to issue a request for proposals for a construction‑management firm and to create or re‑establish district positions to oversee the bond program.

Staff also reported the citizens' oversight committee is fully vacant—"zero" active members—and urged active recruitment to meet legal oversight requirements once projects begin. The board directed staff to post recruitment materials and proposed an application deadline in early September.

What happens next: staff plan to present a financing resolution for board consideration at the next meeting authorizing the sale of new‑money bonds under Measure B with parameters for amount and interest‑rate caps.

Votes and formal actions: none recorded at this item beyond the board's direction to recruit oversight committee members and pursue a financing resolution at the next meeting.

Context: Measure B passed earlier this year with authorization to issue up to $195 million in general obligation bonds to address facility repairs, safety and capacity needs across the district. The board and advisers said the district will aim to issue bonds periodically (approximately every two years) to balance tax impacts and construction pacing.