MADISON - A state appeals court last week found the Merrill Area Public School District had sole authority to determine whether Maple Grove Elementary School in the town of Hamburg had insufficient enrollment to continue operation. The District III Court of Appeals opinion reversed a June 9, 2020, decision by Marathon County Judge Michael Moran, who erred by substituting his discretion for the district's in determining whether the charter school's enrollment was sufficient for successful operation, according to the appellate order. The Maple Grove Governance Board had sued the Merrill School Board, which wanted to terminate the school’s charter for alleged failure to meet enrollment and academic achievement benchmarks.