MILTON — On their first day back to school, Aug. 15, the Learning Academy of Santa Rosa students will notice some changes to their Stewart Street facility.
“We are going to have two buildings with 14 classrooms,” said Jeremy Drew, the academy’s dean of students. “It will be a big upgrade from what we have right now.”
Most of the sixth- through 12th-grade public charter school, which is managed by the Radar Group, operates out of portable units. Those units will be removed.
Why are these changes necessary?
Well, in 21 years, the charter school has seen growth. The academy has an enrollment of more than 200 students. The school recently had a graduating class of 26. The school originally served around 80 students all together just three years ago, Drew said.
“We have outgrown the portables, so this was something we had to do,” Drew said. “We have been due for it.”
The academy, serves students who are academically behind, dealing with truancy, or unable to learn in a public school setting. The academy also receives student referrals from the Santa Rosa County School District, Drew said.
Construction on the new facility is expected to cost more than $1 million. The project will begin after students are released for summer break; it’s expected to be completed by Aug. 1, Drew said.
Similar to the outgoing portables, each classroom will feature its own restroom.
“We found that to be is the best solution,” Drew said. “Public bathrooms are where problems happen. We don’t do locker rooms, kids don’t dress in and out, because that is where problems happen in the high schools. It may be an expense, but it is something we think is really worth it.”
The portable units will not go to waste, Drew said. Most of them will be donated to local charitable organizations, and a few were sold.
As for future consideration in further improving the educational facility, Drew said school officials would like to see a covered pavilion for physical education and other outdoor activities.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Learning Academy of Santa Rosa to receive new buildings