Oklahoma: Epic Virtual Charter Severs Ties to Co-Founders’ For-Profit Firm After Paying Them Millions | Diane Ravitch's blog

Oklahoma: Epic Virtual Charter Severs Ties to Co-Founders’ For-Profit Firm After Paying Them Millions | Diane Ravitch's blog

Oklahoma: Epic Virtual Charter Severs Ties to Co-Founders’ For-Profit Firm After Paying Them Millions

After a scathing state audit of its finances, the EPIC virtual charter school cut its ties to the school’s for-profit co-founders.

The governing board of Epic Charter Schools underwent a major overhaul Wednesday night and then declared its independence from the for-profit school management company owned by Epic’s co-founders.

Epic’s seven-member board of education unanimously approved a mutual termination agreement, effective July 1, to end its contract with Epic Youth Services, which reportedly has made millionaires of founders David Chaney and Ben Harris.

“Big day for our school; big shift, obviously,” said the newly seated board Chair Paul Campbell, an aerospace and energy executive who founded the Academy of Seminole charter school.

“This school has outgrown its management company, CONTINUE READNG: Oklahoma: Epic Virtual Charter Severs Ties to Co-Founders’ For-Profit Firm After Paying Them Millions | Diane Ravitch's blog

‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation | KFOR com Oklahoma City

‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation | KFOR.com Oklahoma City

‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The multicounty grand jury investigating Epic Charter Schools has released a scathing interim report of its findings following the state’s audit report against the school.

According to the report, “Due to the lack of transparency in accounting for the funds, intentional avoidance of disclosure of information by a private entity, and lack of cooperation; the investigation is unable to be completed at this time.”

State auditor spells out questionable practices by Epic Charter Schools for Oklahoma school leaders 

The concerns from the Audit Report and the subsequent investigation by the Multicounty Grand Jury can be summarized as:

• Lack of oversight
• Lack of transparency in operations
• Lack of accountability by for-profit company Epic Youth Services

By failing to provide appropriate oversight, the entities responsible have allowed significant public funds to be diverted into private accounts without transparency. The public has not been served by the incestuous relationship between the for-profit vendor, Epic Youth Services, and the governing board Community Strategies. The system has failed to provide accountability and allowed a company to take advantage and generate a substantial personal profit on the backs of Oklahoma students. This is especially offensive at a time when Oklahoma students and parents are struggling with the weight of the pandemic and its effects on our students’ education and wellbeing.

This interim report focuses on the for-profit vender, Epic Youth Services LLC (EYS).

“The incestuous relationship between the board and a private vendor has resulted in a lack of independent oversight,” the report states. “As designed, this system is ripe for fraud.”

From 2015 to 2020, Epic Charter Schools received more than $458 million in state and federal funds as a  CONTINUE READING: ‘Ripe for fraud’: Multicounty Grand Jury releases interim report on Epic Charter Schools investigation | KFOR.com Oklahoma City

MEGAN PRATHER: Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms - NONDOC

Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms

Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms

The governing board of Epic One-on-One Charter School agreed to the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s proposed settlement terms Wednesday night, one day after the SVCSB rejected Epic’s initial proposal.

The new settlement agreement (embedded below) still needs to be approved by the SVCSB, but Epic released a statement Wednesday night saying its new “settlement agreement reflects the exact terms proposed by the SVCSB at its April 20, 2021, meeting.” If approved, the Epic settlement would conclude the SVCSB’s charter termination proceedings, which began months ago in the wake of a state audit of Epic’s governance, finances and controversial “learning fund.”

“While we have objected to the politicization of the (state) audit and some of its findings, we have implemented many changes it recommended to strengthen our school and make our operations more transparent,” said Community Strategies Board President Doug Scott in a statement. “We’re in a different, stronger and better place than we were six months ago, and I’m proud of the hard work of this Board and our school leaders. I want to thank the SVCSB and executive director Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson for her leadership during this period of time. Everyone involved has a servant’s heart and wants to serve children and families to the best of our ability.”

Wilkinson did not return a phone call seeking comment about the Epic settlement CONTINUE READING: Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms

Megan Prather: Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals - NONDOC

Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals

Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals

The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board held a special meeting this afternoon where members approved a motion to draft a new consent agreement to conclude charter termination proceedings with Epic One-on-One Charter School.

Epic attorney Bill Hickman and assistant Attorney General Marie Schuble will each submit new Epic settlement proposals with amendments requested by the SVCSB, such as full cooperation with the State Auditor & Inspector’s Office and the appointment of a compliance officer.

Epic’s governing board had proposed a settlement agreement at its April 14 meeting in an effort to resolve the SVCSB’s charter termination case, but the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board declined to accept their proposal today.

“I’d like to make a motion to have the parties, through their designated counsel, submit an amended consent order that includes, but is not limited to the sections that (SVCSB director) Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson will CONTINUE READING: Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals