Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at or on Twitter at Support Nuria’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. "This is a not-for-profit school, and it will be as long as I'm here," he said. The school system has outgrown the co-founders' management company, Campbell said. School officials have spent months implementing corrective action and internal reforms in the wake of the state audit. The divorce from Harris and Chaney represents a milestone at Epic. Education Board Partners, based in Washington, D.C., identifies potential school board candidates and trains boards in proper governance. Tatum, of Tulsa, is a forensic accountant.Ī nonprofit that Epic hired in February recruited and recommended the new members. Casper, an Oklahoma City-based attorney, is the new secretary. He is a founder and board leader for the Academy of Seminole charter school. The board ushered in four new members on Wednesday: Campbell, Ginger Casper, Jon Tatum and Danny Williams. More will be appointed in the coming months.Ĭampbell, of Seminole, will take over as the next board chairperson. The longest-tenured member remaining is Kathren Stehno, who was appointed in December. "I've been on this board for over 10 years," he said. "It’s time for this school to close a chapter and start a new one." Scott also announced his resignation Wednesday. Franklin tendered their resignations before Wednesday's meeting.īrown served on the board since 2014. Franklin leaves his position after only four months. State auditors found the board provided poor oversight of school finances and scant accountability for Epic Youth Services.īoard members Betsy Brown and J.P. Some of those members, including Scott, sat on the board since Epic was founded and had prior friendships with Harris and Chaney. Turnover on Epic school boardĮvery member serving on Epic's school board six months ago is now gone. Costing just shy of $1 million, PowerSchool will provide a similar product at a fraction of the price of Epic Youth Services' contract. The board approved a contract with PowerSchool for a new technology system. The EpiCenter student information system is Epic Youth Services' only proprietary product that the schools will have to replace. The company earned 10% of Epic's annual revenue as a yearly management fee.Įpic received about $300 million in state funds this school year. The virtual charter school system contains two school districts: the online education platform Epic One-on-One and physical learning sites known as Epic Blended Learning Centers.Įpic will save tens of millions by terminating its contract with Epic Youth Services. 1 report.ĭespite mounting public scrutiny, Epic grew into the largest school system in Oklahoma last year, as thousands of families sought virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. "With one hand Brock and Chaney were invoicing Epic, and with the other hand they were approving payments from Epic to (Epic Youth Services)," auditors wrote in an Oct. The Oklahoma State Board of Education demanded Epic repay $11.2 million as a result of the audit. Auditors said this allowed questionable financial practices to become pervasive. Both shared the same chief financial officer, Josh Brock. The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector's Office also raised concerns about a lack of separation between the school and the company. Grand jurors issued a 25-page interim report May 6 as they continue to investigate the school system and Epic Youth Services. This relationship is done as long as this board’s in place."Įarlier this month, a multicounty grand jury called for Epic to "extricate itself from an incestuous relationship" with the co-founders and their company. “This is final," Campbell said. "We’re not reassessing anything that comes to a (charter management organization), especially Epic Youth Services. Campbell and three other new board members were installed Wednesday night. The new leader of Epic's school board, Paul Campbell, said the separation is permanent, not a pause. "At this time, we feel it is best for (Epic Youth Services) and Epic to pause our professional relationship and to give each entity a chance to determine how to best serve families moving forward in light of the recent settlement agreement," they said in a joint statement. Harris and Chaney said splitting from the school they founded was a "sad and difficult decision." That decision was part of a settlement with the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, a state agency that threatened to close Epic's biggest branch over alleged contract violations and fiscal mismanagement.
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