MEGAN PRATHER: Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma - NONDOC

Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma

Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma

Since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, journalists have been covering the details, legal questions and uncertainties in the wake of the landmark court decision. Complicated and delicate in nature, the affirmation of Indian Country reservations and ongoing developments constitute an important storyline for the state of Oklahoma and the Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole nations.

This story is a part of the Oklahoma Media Center’s Promised Land collaborative effort, which shows how the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision will affect both tribal and non-Indigenous residents in the state. 

Recently, the Oklahoma Media Center launched a collaborative reporting project called The Promised Land: A Supreme Court decision places Oklahoma at a crossroads.

Newsrooms across the state have committed to share their content regarding issues pertinent to court rulings and their effects on Indigenous and non-tribal residents of Oklahoma.

The following recap features the opening paragraphs of five stories that were published between April 17 and April 23 by Oklahoma reporters. To read more from each story, click on the provided hyperlinks.

The snippets below have been edited lightly for date clarity and to include additional links to relevant information.

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Judge rules State of Oklahoma has jurisdiction for former KCA reservation CONTINUE READING: Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma

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

MEGAN PRATHER: 'Where my beliefs are': Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

'Where my beliefs are': Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

‘Where my beliefs are’: Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

When Gov. Kevin Stitt’s most recent appointee to the State Board of Education, Trent Smith, successfully moved to approve a sweeping resolution about charter school funding at a March meeting in an effort to settle a 2017 lawsuit, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister called the move “unexpected.”

“This is a radical departure from following the law. Instead, it is really an outrageous step in creating law,” Hofmeister said, emphasizing that the Oklahoma Legislature is tasked with creating state statute regarding education policy. “That process has been stripped away and, instead, four Gov. Stitt appointees chose what they wanted and just did it.”

Hofmeister’s comments touched on a question that had been brewing for some time: Does the governor have too much influence in determining how State Board of Education members vote?

“We believe all appointed board members of state agencies should be acting in the best interest of Oklahomans,” said Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education CONTINUE READING: 'Where my beliefs are': Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

MEGAN PRATHER: Epic's controversial 'learning fund' will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

Epic's controversial 'learning fund' will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

Epic’s controversial ‘learning fund’ will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

In meetings Tuesday that lasted until after midnight, the governing board of Epic Blended and Epic One-on-One charter schools, Community Strategies, approved a motion that will move the school’s controversial learning fund from private account management to public bank accounts.

The board also approved items after a nearly four-hour executive session, including a settlement proposal regarding contract termination proceedings with the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

Epic’s learning fund reimburses the families of Epic Blended and Epic One-on-One students for up to $1,000 of educational curriculum or extra-curricular purchases and is currently administered by the for-profit management company Epic Youth Services, which is owned by Epic co-founder Ben Harris and David Chaney.

Epic’s assistant superintendent of finance, Jeanise Wynn, presented the proposed changes, which would, effective July 1, place all funds allocated to the learning fund in bank accounts owned by Community Strategies doing business as either Epic Blended Learning Charter or Epic One-on-One Charter School, respectively.

“This will also require that all revenue and expenditure records for the public bank CONTINUE READING: Epic's controversial 'learning fund' will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

OKLAHOMA: 'It's a damn mess': Fiscal impact, future of charter school funding resolution unclear - NONDOC

'It's a damn mess': Fiscal impact, future of charter school funding resolution unclear

‘It’s a damn mess’: Fiscal impact, future of charter school funding resolution unclear

Uncertainty surrounding the State Board of Education’s 4-3 vote last week on a resolution stating that public charter schools should receive the same funding as traditional public schools can be summed up by Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister’s answers to a series of questions Tuesday afternoon.

Asked if she had signed the board’s resolution — which she voted against and that would become the basis for the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association dismissing a 2017 lawsuit — Hofmeister said she had not. When asked if she plans on signing the document, she said she did not know. When asked what the results would be if she does or does not sign the settlement, she was also unsure.

“That is something that, since it just came in and I voted ‘No,’ we’ll fully examine,” Hofmeister said moments after meeting with more than a dozen House Republicans about the situation Tuesday.

The controversial decision has pushed conversation about how charter schools should be funded to the forefront of the Oklahoma political landscape. The fiscal impact of the board’s resolution also remains undetermined as stakeholders weigh potential legal action and the Oklahoma Legislature crafts next year’s state budget ahead of the policy CONTINUE READING: 'It's a damn mess': Fiscal impact, future of charter school funding resolution unclear

The week in coveducation: 'Ghost students' examined

The week in coveducation: 'Ghost students' examined

The week in coveducation: ‘Ghost students’ examined

There could be a light at the end of the tunnel for Oklahoma teachers still waiting to be vaccinated after Gov. Kevin Stitt announced this week that COVID-19 vaccines would be available to all pre-K through 12th grade educators beginning Feb. 22.

Also this week, voters hit the polls in some local school board elections, including the race for chairperson of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education. Plus, The Oklahoman and StateImpact examined the term “ghost students,” as it was used by Stitt during his State of the State address.

But first, make sure you heard the latest episode of NonDoc’s podcast — Live From the News Dungeon — which featured a guest appearance by House Common Education Chairwoman Rhonda Baker (R-Yukon).

Once you’re done with that, be sure to catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Oklahoma teachers eligible for vaccine Feb. 22

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Thursday that pre-K through 12th grade teachers, school staff CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: 'Ghost students' examined

The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

Monday, Feb. 1, marked the beginning of the 2021 legislative session, where Gov. Kevin Stitt used his State of the State address to touch on his goals for the Oklahoma education landscape.

Also this week — a superintendent at a Fairfax county school district has been suspended by the school’s board owing to new sanctions by federal and state education authorities.

Catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Stitt pushes for changes to student transfer policy, funding formula

Stitt’s State of the State address referenced two of his #oklaed goals: changing the state’s school funding formula and creating a stronger and statewide open transfer policy for students between Oklahoma’s more than 500 school districts.

The Frontier’s Ben Felder reported that while schools are currently funded based off of the highest enrollment count for one of the past three years, Stitt wants the enrollment CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The State Board of Education and Epic Charter Schools board each welcomed new members during respective meetings this week.

Also this week, Tulsa Public Schools called for vaccine prioritization for school employees amid criticism from Gov. Kevin Stitt over the districts decision to remain in distance learning.

Catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Impromptu interview with Epic Charter Schools co-founder Ben Harris

Epic Charter Schools co-founder Ben Harris isn’t known for talking extensively to the media. So, when NonDoc editor-in-chief Tres Savage ran into him on Monday evening while trying to access a board meeting, he turned on his recording device and asked him a few questions.

Read and listen to this interview, where Harris answers questions surrounding recent issues facing Oklahoma’s largest — and most controversial — school district.

Mike Cantrell leaves Epic Charter Schools board CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The State Board of Education is slated to hold its first meeting of 2021 at 10 a.m. Thursday with the Epic Charter Schools Board of Education scheduled to meet Monday evening.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, this week Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed former businessman and University of Oklahoma football player Trent Smith to the Board of Education and continued his push for open schools.

Catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Stitt appoints new State Board of Education member

Trent Smith appointed to State Board of Education - https://nondoc.com/?p=20865 by @https://twitter.com/MeganPrather405 on @nondocmedia

On Friday, Gov. Kevin Stitt named former Oklahoma Employment Security Commission commissioner and former University of Oklahoma football player Trent Smith as his appointment to fill the vacant seat on the State Board of Education.

NonDoc reported that Smith will fill the seat for Congressional District 3, which was left vacant after Stitt removed Kurt Bollenbach from the board in December.

Smith said he is familiar with and supportive of Stitt’s goals for public education in the state, including Stitt’s statements that all students need to have an option for in-person instruction this year despite the pandemic.

Stitt pushes to open schools amid worsening pandemic CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

A new state policy that gives school districts the option not to require students to quarantine if they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 — as long as their school district is enforcing a masking policy and other preventative measures — was met with criticism by school leaders.

Catch up on that and a packed week of education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around Oklahoma.

New policy seeks to incentivize schools to offer in-person options

On Tuesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced a new policy from the Oklahoma State Department of Health that would gives districts the option to allow asymptomatic students exposed to someone positive for COVID-19 not to have to quarantine if their school is enforcing a mask policy and protocols like social distancing.

NonDoc reported that Stitt also announced increased delivery of COVID-19 tests to school districts, increased delivery of personal protective equipment to school districts and the start of vaccinations of teachers age 65+ this week.

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, the Oklahoma Education Association and the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers released statements CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The state saw some big news in the education world this week with an announcement from the State Department of Education that Oklahoma public school enrollment has dropped. The timeline for getting all Oklahoma teachers vaccinated was also found to be unclear.

In the coming week, the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education will meet Monday, Jan. 11, and Epic Charter Schools’ board, Community Strategies, is set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Stay up-to-date on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state in our coveducation recap.

Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

Some of Oklahoma’s teachers at the highest risk for contracting COVID-19 received vaccine doses this week. However, it’s unclear when all K-12 teachers in the state will receive vaccinations.

The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel reported this week that officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health said, at this point, federal vaccine allocations have only CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

Happy New Year, readers!

There’s a lot to look out for as we begin 2021, including school board elections for numerous districts and how schools in the state will continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we try to forget 2020 and prepare for the onslaught of 2021, make sure you’re caught up on the news affecting Oklahoma schools with a few recent education headlines from reporters around the state.

Governor’s staff discussed a plan to reopen schools based on mask mandate

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for all schools to reopen for in-person learning for the spring semester. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister wants a mask mandate in all school facilities.

The Frontier’s Ben Felder reported that, earlier this month, staff for each worked on a CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

Megan Prather: The year in Oklahoma education - NONDOC

The year in Oklahoma education

The year in Oklahoma education

What a long, strange year it’s been.

We collectively coped with adjusting to COVID-19, an election and a massive power outage all in the span of 365 days. For that, I think we all deserve an air high-five.

But before we plunge into a new year, take a moment to stroll down Oklahoma education memory lane with this collection of notable NonDoc stories from the unforgettable year of 2020.

School’s out for now: ‘This is a dynamic situation’

In March, the Oklahoma State Board of Education ordered all public, charter and virtual schools closed until April 6 to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“This is a dynamic situation. It’s very fluid,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said during an emergency State Board of Education meeting March 16.

The Board of Education was confronted with other COVID-related issues throughout the year, including failed calls for a statewide school mask mandate as well as cancelling school report cards for the 2020/2021 school year.

Stitt announces $10 million in PPE for schools CONTINUE READING: The year in Oklahoma education

Survey: Oklahoma educators 'overwhelmed' and 'scared' - NONDOC

Survey: Oklahoma educators 'overwhelmed' and 'scared'

Survey: Oklahoma educators ‘overwhelmed’ and ‘scared’

In a recent survey, the Oklahoma Education Association asked more than 3,100 teachers, support professionals and administrators to use one word to describe their current feelings about their job. Words like “stressed,” “overwhelmed,” and “scared” landed in the top 10.

The survey (embedded below) was conducted online Dec. 1 through Dec. 14, and it asked respondents to express their feelings on issues like the pandemic in general, school safety, student learning and how school employees are doing. A total of 3,580 Oklahoma educators completed the survey, with 3,147 responses deemed to be valid. The survey took about 30 minutes to complete and had a 54 percent completion rate, with responses coming from 230 communities.

“As you’ll see in the survey, the number one concern of our members has been the educational progress of our students,” OEA President Alicia Priest said during a Monday press conference announcing the survey results. “However, when the governor released a video last week where blame was placed on OEA and educators for the current state of fear regarding COVID-19 in Oklahoma, or when he declared that all schools must return CONTINUE READING: Survey: Oklahoma educators 'overwhelmed' and 'scared'

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

There’s a lot of Oklahoma education news to catch up on this week, from Gov. Kevin Stitt moving teachers to phase two of Oklahoma’s vaccine distribution plan to an updated audit of Epic Charter Schools showing the school could have shortchanged taxpayers an additional $823,000.

Don’t fret. We’ve made it easy to stay up-to-date with a collection of education headlines from reporters around the state in our coveducation recap.

Epic shortchanged taxpayers an additional $823,000

The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel reported this week that an updated audit of Epic Charter Schools shows the school could have overspent by an additional $823,772 on administrators’ salaries.

State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd announced Wednesday that a second evaluation of Epic’s CONTINUE READING: Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

MEGAN PRATHER: Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19 - NONDOC

Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19

Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19

Linda Chambers has had guardianship over her two grandchildren for the past four years. There were new things to learn, like getting the hang of school schedules and navigating programs through the Department of Human Services.

But the biggest adjustment came this year, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and she found herself facing hurdles she could never have anticipated.

“This year has just been crazy,” Chambers said. “It’s obviously a mess. You want them to go to school and have the experience, but you also want to be safe.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer of difficulty for all families, but grandparents taking care of children have faced some particular challenges. Helping students in a virtual school environment has been a problem for some. And sending children to school to potentially bring the virus home is especially risky when the primary caregiver is elderly. These families also have to consider some difficult topics, such as what would happen if the guardian becomes ill with COVID-19.

‘There’s nowhere to send these boys if they get sick’

Chambers has a grandson who graduated from Epic Charter Schools last year and a CONTINUE READING: Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19

Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

Community Strategies, which serves as Epic Charter Schools’ board of education, will meet Wednesday, Nov. 18, to continue discussing corrective actions after an investigative audit revealed issues such as poor financial oversight.

The Rose State Board of Regents will also be meeting next week, with Epic officials planned to be in attendance. Combined, the public bodies are likely to make for another week of marathon #oklaed meetings worth watching.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, however, catch up on this week’s marathon meetings and other Oklahoma education news with our recap of headlines from reporters around the state.

OKCPS returning to remote learning

Oklahoma City Public Schools announced Friday that the district will be returning to remote learning on Nov. 16 through the end of the semester.

This comes after one week of in-person classes on an A/B schedule and as Oklahoma County reached the State Department of Education’s ‘Red Alert’ level for COVID-19 cases CONTINUE READING: Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning