Grand jury: Lack of transparency delaying Epic school probe
SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) An investigation into a virtual charter school that has grown to become the largest public school in Oklahoma has been delayed due to inadequate transparency with public funds and a lack of cooperation by some employees, the state s multicounty grand jury said in a report issued Thursday.
The grand jury said it issued the interim report into Epic Charter Schools, even though the investigation is ongoing, because parents and policymakers need to know about their concerns.
“The investigation continues into whether public funds may have been used inappropriately, the report states. “Due to the lack of transparency in accounting for the funds, international avoidance of disclosure of information by a private entity, and lack of cooperation; the investigation is unable to be completed at this time.
By: Barry Mangold
Oklahoma state regulators overseeing Epic One-on-One Charter School voted on Monday to approve a settlement agreement with the district and to cancel an upcoming termination hearing.
The vote ends a roughly seven-month-long saga between the district and its authorizer, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. The board threatened Epic with termination after a blistering report by the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector in October.
“Today’s vote moves us forward,” said SVCSB Chairman Dr. Robert Franklin after the vote to approve the settlement agreement. “It’s a clarion call to all Oklahoma public virtual charter schools that governance and oversight must be managed transparently.”
The chairman of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board is calling this a step forward and a sign for all other virtual public charter schools for the future.
The biggest changes under the new settlement will make Epic s finances and operations more transparent, after an audit last year led to accusations of mismanagement of state funding.
The agreement includes making spending information from the Epic Learning Fund more visible to the public starting July 1.
Changes are also planned for Epic Youth Services, the private company previously in charge of operations.
Now, all personnel will report to the superintendent and board and Epic Youth Services will no longer be financially managing the school.
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Charter schools slapped with new $10.5 million penalty by state Education Department
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (Tulsa World) Epic Charter Schools has been hit with another big financial penalty by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
For the second year in a row, education officials say Epic’s own spending reports to the state reflect administrative costs well above statutory limits for all public schools and the school remains out of compliance with mandatory school cost accounting.
The state’s largest school system was notified in a Wednesday letter that it is being assessed penalties totaling at least $10.5 million over the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30 for both its schools, Epic One-on-One and Epic Blended Learning Centers.