“Finally.”

That was Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Rick Champion’s first word as he stood behind a podium at the Brea Olinda Unified School District’s (BOUSD) fencing groundbreaking ceremony at Laurel Magnet Elementary School on Aug. 20. 

After years of meetings with educational partners, Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) groups, the Brea police and fire departments, school principals, city staff, and over 30 different contract submissions to the school board, Champion happily announced that the “hard part” of the process was complete. 

The installation of the fencing at eight BOUSD schools — at an estimated cost of $2,550,700, paid for out of district facilities funds  — will begin in September and continue through summer 2025.

At BOHS, construction begins in January, and will include fencing to enclose areas of campus currently open to foot traffic, the replacement of existing gates, and path-of-travel alterations. Construction, at a cost of $555,671, will take three months to complete, according to Joey Davis, BOHS principal. 

The need for fences comes “now more than ever,” Davis said. “The news stories are so tragic and they seem to be happening more frequently. Schools have an obligation to work to keep students safe, and this is one measure to do that.”

Fences and gates will be installed at strategic locations across the BOHS campus, including:

• At the athletic field’s entrance along Wildcat Way.
• Around the gym’s south concourse area between the pools and handball courts.
• Around the gym’s north concourse area and the mechanical and electrical yards. 
• At the main campus entrance, extending from the Performing Arts Center (PAC) to the office.
• Around the A building maintenance area.
• Between M building and the parking lot north of A building. 

Superintendent Brinda Leon delivered opening remarks at the groundbreaking to an audience of community leaders, from PTO representatives to school leadership to city officials, including Brea mayor Christine Marick.

“Our district has been fortunate to maintain a strong safety culture, but we believe that taking proactive steps now will prevent future risks in the future,” Leon said. “The enhancement of perimeter fencing at our school sites is a critical component of this effort, serving as a first line of defense to control access to our campuses and guide visitors through a single point of entry into our main offices.”

Champion then detailed the competitive bid process, which began with 42 invites and a number of contractors expressing interest, to narrowing the list down to those that followed through with the many district expectations of financial qualification checks and job walks. 

The final list came down to sealed bids from three different contractors, all with costs ranging from $2.4 million to $4.1 million dollars.

BOUSD chose J&A Engineering because it submitted the most “responsive and responsible bid.”

The proposal was unanimously approved at a June 27 BOUSD school board meeting. 

The amounts allocated to each school are as follows (in alphabetical order): 

• Arovista Elementary School: $412,460
• Brea Junior High School: $394,206
• Brea Olinda High School: $555,671
• Country Hills Elementary School: $372,730
• Falcon Academy of Science & Technology: $245,486
• Laurel Elementary School: $255,686
• Mariposa Elementary School: $228,095
• Olinda Elementary School: $86,366

(Brea Canyon High School, according to Champion, “will have some work done, but the work is small and not part of this bid package.”)

Following the groundbreaking presentations, representatives from the BOUSD school board dug into the grounds of  Laurel Magnet Elementary School with symbolic golden shovels, marking the start of the project. Attendees also viewed drawings of the proposed fencing at each of the BOUSD campuses. 

PTO Council President Dani Repp, who represents the PTO members across all schools, revealed how urgent the fencing project was among BOUSD parents. “I cannot tell you how many times it has come up during PTO meetings or even just in general conversations with other parents. It’s always been a huge concern for [us], and rightfully so,” Repp said. “In a day and age of lockdown drills, school fences are a must.” 

Several school leaders have expressed support for the project.

“I’m thrilled that the new gates will provide our parents and community with an added sense of security,” Rick Torres, Mariposa Elementary School principal, said. 

Jeannie Kim, Falcon Academy of Science and Technology principal, agreed: “This fencing project will provide an added layer of security, ensuring that our most beloved and valued students are safe and enclosed during school hours. While academics, social-emotional learning, and behavioral growth are all high priorities for us, our top priority is the safety of our students.”

Leon ended her presentation with a reminder of the district’s need for fencing. “Just like we do everything possible to safeguard our homes and the treasures at home, here at BOUSD we are doing everything to safeguard our schools, because our teachers, students, and staff are more precious than any treasure on earth,” Leon said.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Ryan Kim

Additional fences will be added as an increased security measure at the main campus entrance, extending from the Performing Arts Center (PAC) to the office.