Feasibility study lays out $114M$120M plan to modernize 107-year-old Brea Junior High; board weighs community support

PJHM Architects presented a feasibility study to the Brea Olinda Unified School District board on May 9 that outlines three options to modernize the district's 107-year-old Brea Junior High and estimates the project could cost roughly $114 million to $120 million depending on scope and phasing.

The presentation, led by PJHM principals Kenneth Botany and James Bucknam and introduced by Assistant Superintendent Rick Champion and Superintendent Brenda Leon, outlined three site-concept options: (1) remove the existing auditorium and replace it with a large outdoor central court and a new event center with expanded parking; (2) cap and modernize the auditorium while keeping more blacktop open for play; and (3) a blended approach that reduces some site items to lower overall cost. The report emphasized the campus is landlocked, that many buildings are historic and show age, and that some structures will require seismic upgrades and hazardous-materials abatement.

"You have buildings on campus that are more than a 100 years old," Kenneth Botany, PJHM's principal architect, told the board, summarizing the firm's structural and programmatic assessment. James Bucknam, associate principal and project manager for PJHM, pointed to opportunities to densify the campus and add indoor-outdoor flexible learning spaces and joint-use community facilities.

The study presented mid-range cost estimates and a range of potential per-option budgets. "Anyone [should] expect a midpoint estimate," the architects said; the board was given an estimated overall cost band while staff emphasized these are planning-level numbers. The presentation noted added costs for seismic mitigation in the auditorium and for phasing construction while the school remains operational.

Superintendent Brenda Leon framed the study around the district's strategic goals for facilities and program alignment: modern classrooms, improved safety, more capacity for TK and kindergarten growth, and expanded CTE and STEAM offerings. Leon said the study is intended to inform whether to pursue a local bond, and she stressed the district does not expect immediate state reimbursement for projects of this scope.

Board members asked about fundraising options, the polling data that informed a potential bond package and alternatives if voters do not pass a measure. Trustee Carrie (surname not stated on the record) asked how soft costs and landscaping were included; PJHM explained that typical "soft costs" include DSA review fees, architectural fees and utility surveys, and that furniture and finish items are included in the construction-budget assumptions. One trustee voiced concern about community support: "I'm so scared if the community doesn't support this," a board member said during discussion, underscoring the political difficulty of large local bonds.

Staff also outlined implementation trade-offs: a rapid, short-duration construction approach helps control escalation costs but requires temporary relocation or intensive phasing; longer, phased builds may extend construction over several years and increase total costs. The architects recommended continued community engagement and further targeted polling to refine a package before the board considers bringing a bond measure forward.

The district will revisit the feasibility study and present additional material on the high school at a May 23 meeting; architects and staff said they would conduct follow-up polling and refine scope, cost estimates, phasing plans and potential funding scenarios before any formal action.

What happens next: PJHM and district staff will return to the board with more-detailed options for the high school and additional community outreach and polling results; no bond resolution was adopted on May 9. The firm posted the full feasibility study and a QR code was provided during the presentation for residents seeking the detailed report.