Roseville commission approves John Adams Academy expansion

Roseville officials last week approved a campus expansion of John Adams Academy Charter School into a nearby building. The Roseville Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit Dec. 11 to allow the expansion of the academy along the freeway at Harding and Lead Hill boulevards. The tuition-free, K-12 school wants to buy the nearby parcel and existing 6,795 square-foot building at 13 Sierra Gate Plaza for classrooms and play area. Enrollment will remain the same at roughly 1,650, officials said. Earlier this year, Adams won approval to expand into the first floor of 5 Sierra Gate Plaza on the other side of campus. Since then, the charter got an opportunity to buy the 13 Sierra Gate building. No retrofit is expected, as the structure was recently renovated for preschool and daycare, officials said. L'Academy Language preschool currently occupies the building. "This building is particularly well-suited to house our lower elementary programs," said Adams Academy Executive Director Joseph Benson at the meeting. "The proposed expansion will not increase the student capacity of 1,650 students or change the drop-off and pick-up procedures that are now in place," said Roseville Planning Manager Greg Bitter in his report. After the expansion into 13 Sierra Gate Plaza, the operation of the Adams campus will remain consistent with the 2017 traffic impact study, said Bitter. Similar to the June proposal, the expansion into the 13 building will allow Adams to provide more state-mandated after-school programming, plus before- and after-school care opportunities for all grade levels. An increase in before and after-school programs will actually reduce drop-off and pick-up traffic at the normal peak times, staff explained. The proposed change in expansion plans was advertised with no comments received, said Bitter. After traffic concerns were satisfied, the commission voted unanimously to approve the expansion Dec. 11. Adams operates Northern California's only tuition-free, TK-12 "American Classical Education" charter schools at three locations, including Lincoln and El Dorado Hills. The charter aims to prepare "future leaders and statesmen through principle-based education centered in classics and great mentors." Students enjoy a classical liberal arts curriculum of history, English, math, visual and performing arts, laboratory science, foreign language, physical education and college prep electives, according to the website.