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.