updated: New charter school to open in Willow Run in fall 2012

NMU's Board of Trustees authorized the charter this month, according to the Marquette-based university's news service.

The South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy will be a newly constructed facility—initially housing classrooms for "young 5-year-olds" through 5th grade, but eventually housing K-8, according to NMU.

The school will be managed by National Heritage Academies, a for-profit charter operator that also runs South Arbor, East Arbor and Fortis academies in Washtenaw County. It runs 43 schools in Michigan, and also operates in seven other states.

The new school will be new construction, according to NMU. It will be located at the corner of Ridge and Geddes roads in Superior Township.

Student registration is tentatively scheduled to begin in February, according to a spokesman for the school.

NMU's newest charter school brings its total to six, according to the university. Recent Michigan "smart cap" legislation allowed the expansion.

Meanwhile, Willow Run schools closed two buildings at the end of 2010-2011 and cut employee pay as part of a district restructuring. It was named to the state's list of lowest-achieving schools in 2010.