Charter‑review team unanimously recommends McKeel Academy Mulberry to Polk board

Polk County School Board · January 14, 2026

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Summary

The charter‑review team rated McKeel Academy Mulberry's K–6 application as meeting standards on 11 sections and partially meeting one; the team voted 16–0 to recommend the application to the school board, and staff said the matter will come before the board for a vote in January.

Candice Amato briefed trustees that McKeel Academy Mulberry submitted a K–6 charter application for the Kingsford campus and that the charter‑review team assessed the application using the state's evaluation instrument. Amato said the review found 'meets standards' on 11 sections and 'partially meets' on one; the charter review team voted unanimously, 16–0, to recommend the application for board consideration.

Board members asked specifically about the partially met section, which related to a loan and interest rate issue. Amato said McKeel's parent organization is likely to forgive the loan so there will be no interest liability, and that the application and final materials will be returned to the board for a vote in January.

What happens next: staff will transmit the application and the review team's evaluation to the full board for formal consideration and a potential vote at the upcoming board meeting.