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Oklahoma City Public Schools on Monday called on State Auditor Cindy Byrd to audit Santa Fe South Charter Schools.
In a unanimous vote, the district’s Board of Education made the request following an hourlong executive session. State law says the state auditor “shall” fulfill the request and a spokesman for the state auditor’s office said Byrd had received the letter Tuesday.
“The purpose of the special audit requested is to determine compliance with statutes, rules, policies and internal control procedures,” an OKCPS statement said. “In light of comments shared at the OSDE Board of Education meeting on Friday, April 9, the Board felt this was an important step to take as an authorizer of Santa Fe South.”
Oklahoman
An Oklahoma City charter school leader said an investigative audit ordered for his schools is an unwarranted attack.
Chris Brewster said he was blindsided Monday night when Oklahoma City Public Schools requested a state audit of Santa Fe South Charter Schools, where he is superintendent.
The Oklahoma City school district has authorized Santa Fe South’s charter contract for 19 years. Brewster said district officials have never approached him about financial concerns, including in the days leading up to the audit request.
“This is what infuriates me,” Brewster said. “If it wasn’t personally motivated, then they should have had the professional courtesy to reach out and ask us about this. It can only be personally motivated at this point.”
Oklahoman
The Oklahoma City Board of Education requested an investigative audit of Santa Fe South Charter Schools on Monday, a significant measure after the charter school system’s finances first came into question last week.
The school board requested an in-depth audit of Santa Fe South for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years and “any other years deemed necessary.”
As the oversight agency over Santa Fe South, the school board has the authority to ask the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s Office to conduct a forensic audit of the charter school system.
This is the same process Gov. Kevin Stitt used to initiate an investigative audit of Epic Charter Schools. In an Oct. 1 report, state auditors said they found widespread financial mismanagement at Epic, which school officials dispute.
Free Market Friday: Charter school students deserve equitable funding By: Jonathan Small Guest Columnist April 8, 2021
Jonathan Small
For years, some of Oklahoma’s best public schools have received less funding than underperforming counterparts. That inequity may soon end thanks to the State Board of Education, and Oklahomans should welcome that change.
Charter schools are public schools that operate under legal agreement with a sponsor. If the charter fails, it can be shut down – in stark contrast to similar traditional public schools. In exchange, the charter is granted certain operational flexibility.
Many charters have been wildly successful. Look over the state’s A-F report cards for schools in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and you’ll notice a trend. Nearly all the A and B schools are charter schools. Nearly all the F schools are traditional public schools – even though the charters serve predominantly low-income students.