For the first time since 1999, Brea residents voted in support of a school bond.

Measure H, Brea Olinda Unified School District’s $160,000 million school bond proposal, passed with 64.44% “yes” votes, exceeding the 55% threshold required for certification, on Nov. 5.

Once sent for certification by the Orange County Registrar of Voters on Dec. 6, and officially certified by the Secretary of State on Dec. 13, BOUSD will secure the funds.

“I am incredibly touched that we have had so much support,” Brinda Leon, BOUSD Superintendent, said at a Nov. 14 board meeting. “There’s not just one reason [the bond passed] other than the collective efforts of every single person that believed in the work of this district and believes in the leadership of this district and believes in the future of our students at this district.”

 The success of the bond follows three Measures – Measures E, G, and K, from 2012, 2016, and 2020, respectively – that fell short of the 55% threshold.

Like the previous proposals, Measure H aims to modernize classrooms and facilities to meet “21st-century standards” at three priority sites: Brea Junior High School (BJH), Falcon Academy of Science and Technology (FAST), and Brea Olinda High School (BOHS).

BJH, the 108-year old junior high school will receive 75% of the bond’s funding – approximately $120,000 million – for a full-scale reconstruction that includes the addition of the district’s sixth graders to alleviate overcrowding at the six elementary schools. Longstanding concerns such as eroding pipes, outdated classrooms, worn floors, and crumbling restrooms and locker rooms, will be addressed. 

“Measure H will enrich our students’ educational experiences and support a future-ready learning environment,” Kristin Risberg, BJH principal, told the Wildcat. “These improvements are an investment not only in our students but also in the future of Brea, ensuring our schools are a source of pride and growth for the whole community.”

An estimated $11.2 million of the bond’s funds will go towards the construction of a multipurpose room at FAST, the only elementary school without a space to hold assemblies, serve breakfast and lunch, or host robotics events, a component of the STEM-oriented school’s activities.

“Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to further enrich the experiences of our students,” Jeannie Kim, FAST principal, said, in an email to the Wildcat. The multipurpose room will allow FAST to support the “social-emotional, academic, and physical growth” of students, according to Kim.  

BOHS’s athletic complexes are another bond priority. The bond will address issues like cracks in the pool, hazardous bubbling on the track, and the lack of working Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units.

Joey Davis, BOHS principal, is “optimistic about Measure H and what it can do for BOUSD and BOHS.” 

In the lead-up to the vote, BOUSD officials and faculty, community leaders, and parents attended committee meetings, led facilities tours, and canvassed the community.

BOUSD trustee Carrie Flanders praised supporters for their efforts. 

“Passing this bond shows the community support for the projects that were chosen to be funded. It also feels like the community values, education, and what great schools can bring to the community,” Flanders said.

Deana Miller, BOUSD trustee, also acknowledged the community’s rallying around the bond. “I am thankful that Brea voters understood and approved the facility needs throughout the district,” Miller said. “I am excited for the upgrades and modernization at 108-year old Brea Junior High.”.

As the district moves forward, the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) – an independent group of seven members representing various community roles – will oversee the allocation of the funds, as outlined in the bond documents. Applications for the committee will remain open for an unspecified window of time, but selection will occur shortly after the bond’s certification on Dec. 13. 

“So much heart went into this campaign,” Leon said. “I always describe this campaign as a labor of love and grassroots, and that is what pushed Brea over that 55% at a monumental time in our district’s history.”