Brea is not noted for being welcoming to school bonds. In fact, a school bond measure has not been passed in Brea since 1999.
But most of Brea’s public schools are quite old. Brea Junior High School is 108 years old – one year older than the city – and in need of upgrades and repairs, updating and remodeling beyond what the district can pay for, its officials say. Besides the junior high, many of the district’s 10 schools have lead pipes, asbestos, outdated infrastructure and lack necessary earthquake safety requirements and campus security equipment.
Read: Nine Orange County school districts have bond measures on the November ballot
So how did Measure H, the $160 million Brea school improvement bond get on the November ballot? According to Assistant Superintendent Rick Champion, the state doesn’t provide regular funding for schools’ major upgrades and repairs. The district has a reserve fund for urgent or unexpected repairs and health and safety issues, but not for major upgrades and major repairs.
After surveying residents and an analysis by consultants, the school board voted to place a school bond measure on the November ballot. The residents’ survey resulted in 405 completed interviews conducted via email, text and telephone with an additional 200-plus residents who mailed in responses from a separate mailer, all of which Champion said helped gauge priorities for the local schools.
If approved, the bonds sold to raise money for the facilities work would be repaid by the addition of approximately $39 per $100,000 of a property’s accessed value – not market value – to property tax bills each year.
A few residents I spoke to who said they are planning to vote no said they were concerned about paying more in taxes when a previous bond measure is still being paid off and should have, they argued, taken care of at least some of this work the district now says is needed.
Some people are concerned that the bond money won’t be used wisely, others told me they never vote for bonds and won’t vote for this one.
Approximately 70% of the money raised from the bond sale would go toward a major updating and remodeling of the junior high. It looks pretty good driving by, but Champion said, “It’s when you stop and take a closer look — beneath the floors, behind the walls and above the ceiling that you truly appreciate the age of the facility and the growing need for modernization.”
The historic administration-library building would be preserved and the rest of the campus totally renovated, and would include more parking.
I recently toured the junior high with some school parents, former teachers and a couple civic leaders. It was definitely eye-opening and like stepping back in time. Made me recall my big sister’s poodle skirts.
The school’s auditorium only seats about one-half of the school’s 900 seventh- and eight-graders. Assemblies must be presented twice to accommodate all the students. The auditorium’s lighting and sound system is very old and beyond upgrading to today’s standards, officials said.
One classroom looked as if came out of a 1940s movie. It even had an alcove for books behind the teacher’s desk, and was very crowded. The campus also has several portable classrooms that are more than 25 years old, often leak and look ready to retire.
One of my favorite spots was the cafeteria-gym where school dances are held. I asked Principal Kristin Risberg where all the long, steel lunch tables with attached benches go when there’s a dance. She said they are stacked up on one side of the room. Lovely.
When the Brea 265 project with 1,100 housing units is developed, the plan is to house all the district’s sixth graders at the junior high. The projected enrollment will grow to 1,600 students, officials said.
While there are several No on H signs around town, no argument against the bond measure was submitted for the ballot.
Will this be the year a school bond passes in Brea?
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.
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