Oklahoma Watch sues Epic Charter Schools, seeking emails
A sign outside of 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City, where Epic Charter Schools leases 40,000 square feet for administrative use. (Photo by Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch)
Oklahoma Watch and reporter Jennifer Palmer have filed a lawsuit against Epic Charter Schools, asking the court to order the release of emails under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. The news organization first requested the documents on July 26.
Specifically, the lawsuit named Epic Blended Learning Centers, Epic One-on-One Charter School, and Superintendent Bart Banfield as defendants. Epic is a public charter school funded by taxpayers.
Palmer requested the emails to and from Epic co-founder Ben Harris dated Jan. 1, 2019 through July 25, 2020 that used his Epic Charter Schools address. Email, like traditional written correspondence, is treated as a document under the state’s Open Records Act.