Jeffco Board Renews Addenbrooke Classical Academy Charter
The school board approved a new contract despite pending litigation and audit findings regarding administrative oversight.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Administration
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On November 13, 2025, the Jeffco school board voted to renew the charter for Lakewood's Addenbrooke Classical Academy through June 2031. This decision followed revelations of school graffiti incidents and audit irregularities.
Why it matters
The district maintained that the graffiti incident was handled internally and did not represent a material contract violation, justifying the decision to grant the five-year renewal.
A 2023-24 fiscal audit identified 69 purchasing card issues, including 13 missing receipts, at the school. The institution served 191 high school students as of fall 2024.
The players
Addenbrooke Classical Academy
This is a charter school located in Lakewood that operates under the oversight of the Jeffco school district.
John Byrne
He served as the principal of Addenbrooke Classical Academy and maintained a blog during his tenure.
Jaylen Davis
He is the plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school and two school leaders regarding a racist graffiti incident.
Ric Netzer
He is a school leader named as a defendant alongside the academy and the former principal in the current lawsuit.
Jeffco
This is the school district responsible for monitoring charter schools and managing the contract renewal process.
The details
Jaylen Davis has filed a lawsuit against the academy and two school leaders following the discovery of racist graffiti featuring his name on a school restroom wall in 2025. District administrators acknowledged they were aware of the incident within two weeks of its occurrence, even as the school went through a period without yearly charter reviews.
Timeline
The 2023-24 school year saw a failure by the district to provide required yearly charter reviews.
Racist graffiti was discovered on a restroom wall in the spring of 2025.
School leadership presented their application to the Jeffco board on November 5, 2025.
The Jeffco board voted to renew the school's charter on November 13, 2025.
The deadline for Addenbrooke Classical Academy, John Byrne, and Ric Netzer to respond to the lawsuit is December 18, 2026.
Culture Shift
This renewal reflects a broader trend of charter school accountability, where boards must balance operational audit findings against educational autonomy. It demonstrates how districts apply the Jeffco public charter school oversight and renewal protocols to maintain legal compliance during controversies.
Parents and residents in Lakewood should monitor school board meetings as the academy prepares for the legal response due in December 2026. The renewal ensures the school remains open for the next five years, maintaining current educational services for the 191 high school students.
The takeaway
The renewal of the charter ensures continuity for students while legal proceedings regarding past conduct remain active. Stakeholders should review upcoming board agendas for any additional oversight measures implemented following the audit findings.
Further reading
For more information on local school board actions, visit the Lakewood Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Canyon Courier.
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