Executive Director Lalah Radney formally announced the successful submission of the C.R. Neal Academy charter application to the South Carolina Department of Education and sponsor, Voorhees University Charter Institute of Learning.

Board members were informed:

• Confirmation of receipt was provided February 2, 2026.
• The completeness review was completed with no deficiencies requiring cure.
• The submission totaled 533 pages with 266 appendices.
• Approximately 272 qualified enrollment leads were documented at time of submission, with continued community interest demonstrated through additional interest forms and inquiries.
• The statutory 90-day decision window places final determination no later than April 23, 2026.
• Capacity interviews are anticipated in late February or early March.
• A public hearing will be scheduled prior to final approval, with exact date pending.

The Board expressed appreciation to Rooted School Foundation, ScholarLead, SchoolOps, Banco, and all contributors for the comprehensive submission. No Board action was required.

Steven Carney provided an overview of the sponsor’s upcoming capacity interview process and emphasized the critical governance role of the Board in the authorization decision.

Key themes included:

• The Board, not the operator, holds the charter.
• The sponsor will assess governance independence, fiduciary oversight, and the Board’s understanding of its legal authority.
• The Board must demonstrate:
• Clear role distinction between governance and management.
• Data-driven oversight practices.
• Financial monitoring and internal controls.
• Authority over evaluation and termination rights within the ESMA.
• The Board should avoid statements implying delegation of full authority to RSF.
• Preparation materials were made available via BoardOnTrack, including:
• Interview question bank
• One-voice messaging guide
• RACI responsibility matrix
• Artifact checklist
• Charter summary materials
• AI-supported learning tools
• Two mock capacity interviews will be scheduled prior to the sponsor interview.

Board members acknowledged the expectation to prepare thoroughly and participate in mock interviews.

No formal Board action was required.

Chris Eide Azevedo provided an update on the Education Services and Management Agreement (ESMA) development.

Committee Progress:

• Clarified scope: ESMA governs Board–Operator accountability relationship only; facilities terms will be addressed in separate agreements.
• Confirmed provisional posture: ESMA will remain draft through authorization and finalized post-approval.
• Identified language inconsistencies requiring legal reconciliation, including:
• Executive Director reporting structure
• ED hiring authority
• ED removal pathway tied to Board evaluation process

Governance Emphasis:

• The Board retains charter authority.
• RSF functions as a contracted vendor.
• The ESMA must preserve meaningful governance leverage for performance oversight and corrective action.
• The committee requested continued authorization to refine the ESMA in collaboration with RSF leadership and counsel.

No formal motion was taken; update was received

Chair Jackson reviewed operational expectations

• Activation and regular use of @rootedschool.org email accounts.
• Completion of BoardOnTrack profiles.
• BoardOnTrack serves as official system of record.
• Media inquiries to be directed to Lalah Radney and Dr. Jackson.
• Standing meetings: First Thursday of each month, 6:00–7:00 PM.

Board members acknowledged expectations.