OKALHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The state of Oklahoma’s multi-county grand jury launched a 25-page interim report Thursday, slamming Epic Constitution Faculty’s operations, which has now turn into the biggest public faculty district within the state of Oklahoma.
The paperwork allege the Epic group has been capable of revenue off the backs of Oklahoma kids as faculty districts throughout the state proceed to crumble popping out of the pandemic. Among the many key overriding issues listed have been “a scarcity of oversight,” “a scarcity of transparency” and “a scarcity of accountability.”
The investigation, although, is much from over. In keeping with the report, not solely did jurors not have sufficient time to completely examine, nevertheless it additionally notes a willful lack of cooperation and an intentional avoidance to reveal data.
Thousands and thousands of taxpayers and tens of millions of {dollars} are concerned within the descriptive particulars dropped by the grand jury. One former state senator who took a stand in opposition to the college mentioned he noticed this coming years in the past.
“It’s precisely proper on track of what I mentioned,” former state Sen. Ron Sharp mentioned. “It was apparent that it was not good what they have been doing.”
Sharp is sticking along with his long-time stance in opposition to Epic Constitution Faculty’s operations, following the 25-page report. They cite a slew of issues, the chief amongst these being once they state that Epic’s system is “ripe for fraud.”
“They have been simply violating each statute, each single administrative code and each contract settlement by which they made,” Sharp mentioned. “In doing this, they have been making tens of millions.”
The outspoken opponent of the college’s operations continues to be going through defamation lawsuits for talking out in opposition to Epic starting in the summertime of 2019. Sharp claimed his struggle in opposition to the group in the end price not solely his bid for reelection, but in addition a task on the Oklahoma State Senate Schooling Appropriations Committee.
“They did all the things they may to destroy me politically,” he mentioned.
Thursday’s report confirmed that between 2015 and 2023, the state and federally funded colleges obtained $458 million. The paperwork state that with out correct oversight “the entities accountable have allowed important public funds to be diverted into personal accounts with out transparency.”
“Each alternative that that they had of which to generate profits, they have been benefiting from that system,” Sharp mentioned.
The varsity fired again with an announcement of their very own that may be learn in full beneath:
“Epic’s Board of Schooling has since October 2023 made important corrective actions, together with Epic Youth Providers now not operationally or financially managing or controlling the college. The varsity itself has totally cooperated in offering public information. We’ll proceed to completely cooperate in sharing any data we now have with the grand jury.”
SHELLY HICKMAN, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS
Epic Youth Providers, or EYS for brief, is a for-profit firm associated to the group. The paperwork state they filed a slew of lawsuits to disclaim entry to the general public funds that have been put in personal accounts. The report additionally claims EYS obtained a ten p.c administration charge to assist run the colleges. That charge has generated practically $46 million since 2015. Allegedly, all of it goes into the pockets of Epic’s two founders.
“We needed to elevate taxes in 2018, of which to offer academics a pay improve,” Sharp mentioned. “We’re speaking about greater than that going into the pockets of those two people.”
The grand jury known as the connection between entities within the operation “incestuous.” They state within the paperwork that the system has failed to offer accountability and “allowed an organization to take benefit and generate a considerable private revenue on the backs of Oklahoma college students.” Earlier than stating that “that is particularly offensive at a time when Oklahoma college students and fogeys are combating the load of the pandemic and its results on our college students’ schooling and wellbeing.”
“Would you say Oklahoma taxpayers have been scammed?” KFOR requested.
“Undoubtedly,” Sharp mentioned. “Your state businesses allowed this to occur.”
No indictments have been handed down for the reason that investigation into the college is ongoing. The grand jury report concludes by stating that “the residents of Oklahoma demand extra. The scholars in Oklahoma deserve higher.”
The grand jury states they plan to recess at the moment till its subsequent session, which takes place on June 1-3, 2023. At the moment, they state they are going to collect extra witnesses and proof to renew their investigation.
The complete 25-page report may be learn beneath:
Report Quantity 13 by KFOR on Scribd
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