Epic Charter Schools

[TheTravellers]

Epic’s Board Vice Chair Resigns, Asks for Investigation into Misconduct

State Opens Investigation of Epic Charter Schools Over New Allegations

[Midtowner]

I'm not saying there's fire. But there's a heck of a lot of smoke.

[jedicurt]

I'm not saying there's fire. But there's a heck of a lot of smoke.

and you can see it glowing from a distance at night, and it sure is putting off a lot of heat.

[Pete]

I'd be very surprised if criminal charges were not brought.

I know there have been ongoing investigations -- both state and FBI -- for several years.

[April in the Plaza]

and you can see it glowing from a distance at night, and it sure is putting off a lot of heat.

And heat tends to melt things, because not all things are designed to be heat resistant.

[Midtowner]

I'd be very surprised if criminal charges were not brought.

I know there have been ongoing investigations -- both state and FBI -- for several years.

People related to these investigations have a funny way of being primaried by someone with an overwhelming war chest, resigning, or being forced to resign.

[TheTravellers]

State Board of Education signs off on withholding $9.1 million from Epic Charter Schools

"The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted Thursday to dock Epic Charter Schools’ next 12 monthly payments by a total of $9.1 million as a penalty for its former management company’s having exceeded legal limits on administrative overhead costs.

This latest penalty, covering a five-year period from fiscal year 2015 through 2019, is in addition to a $10.5 million penalty the state Department of Education withheld from Epic for fiscal year 2020."

[TheTravellers]

State auditor to lawmakers: Epic Charter Schools mismanagement is largest abuse of taxpayer funds 'in the history of this state'

"Amid these new questions about inaction by state law enforcement, federal authorities including the Internal Revenue Service are reportedly now zeroing in on financial irregularities alleged to have occurred at Epic Charter Schools during the decade it was managed by co-founders Ben Harris and David Chaney.

Byrd had been asked to present her office’s forensic audit findings about Epic before the two House education committees."

[Midtowner]

Here's hoping the US Attorney files RICO charges and indict all of the public officials who have been complicit in Epic's corruption from the Governor on down. A kid can dream.

[David]

State auditor to lawmakers: Epic Charter Schools mismanagement is largest abuse of taxpayer funds 'in the history of this state'

"Amid these new questions about inaction by state law enforcement, federal authorities including the Internal Revenue Service are reportedly now zeroing in on financial irregularities alleged to have occurred at Epic Charter Schools during the decade it was managed by co-founders Ben Harris and David Chaney.

Byrd had been asked to present her office’s forensic audit findings about Epic before the two House education committees."

“Wow. It gets worse and worse,” said Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, at the conclusion of Byrd’s presentation.

No kidding.

[onthestrip]

And nothing but silence from our Attorney General.

[HangryHippo]

And nothing but silence from our Attorney General.

He’s busy waffling over price gouging and losing to the tribes.

[Rover]

And nothing but silence from our Attorney General.

Our governor Stitt has been a supporter of Epic and I believe has removed officials who called for audits didn't he?

[Jersey Boss]

And nothing but silence from our Attorney General.

That's to be expected when you have a shrub for an AG. The US Atty. will be taking the lead on this.

[Rover]

No kidding.

Largest misappropriation in the state's history is saying something with all the county commissioner corruption here.

This saga shows exactly why a certain political persuasion has been warned time after time that there is a reason to be wary of privatization of schools and other large public functions while at the same time relaxing oversight and regulations. It is either naïve or corrupt to believe this wouldn't happen. The temptation to skim huge amounts of money that these services provide is just too great for the greedy. Meanwhile, the poor citizens of the state will pay, and pay, and pay. Children will be uneducated and money will be spent anyway. Trusting everyone to be fair and honest needs to be backed by verifiable oversite and real consequences for stepping over the line ..... for EVERYONE involved. The law and order group should be the first to prosecute, but of course they aren't. That wrath is saved for others.

[TheTravellers]

IRS Investigating Epic Charter Schools Finances

[TheTravellers]

Enrollment Irregularities, Unapproved Bonuses: the Latest Epic Charter Investigation

[Midtowner]

Epic is coming after any public official who asks questions. Look at the BS being slung at the current State Auditor for daring to ask questions. And the sad thing is, the voters are dumb enough to fall for their shenannigans and they tend to win. We already have a governor with no integrity. Add into that a potential future State Auditor, and the looting of the State Treasury can begin.

[onthestrip]

Epic is coming after any public official who asks questions. Look at the BS being slung at the current State Auditor for daring to ask questions. And the sad thing is, the voters are dumb enough to fall for their shenannigans and they tend to win. We already have a governor with no integrity. Add into that a potential future State Auditor, and the looting of the State Treasury can begin.

The auditor candidate going against Byrd, and alleged to have major PAC money coming from Epic founders, has raised only $1,300. But half a million in PAC money has been spent on his behalf. That tells you how big of a joke of a candidate he is, only raising a tiny amount, not enough to seriously fund a campaign. But if you have half a million of dark money on your behalf, who knows what will happen. At least Stitt has endorsed Byrd as of yesterday I think.

Back to Epic allegations. For 5,000 students who were consistently absent, they would mark them present every 15th day so they would technically be considered enrolled by the state and Epic would continue to get full state funding for each of those 5,000 students.

[Swake]

Epic is coming after any public official who asks questions. Look at the BS being slung at the current State Auditor for daring to ask questions. And the sad thing is, the voters are dumb enough to fall for their shenannigans and they tend to win. We already have a governor with no integrity. Add into that a potential future State Auditor, and the looting of the State Treasury can begin.

Don't forget the current AG, who is the Governor's creature and has failed to investigate Epic or Swadleys.

[Midtowner]

Don't forget the current AG, who is the Governor's creature and has failed to investigate Epic or Swadleys.

My dealings with that office have always been cordial, but I mainly deal with the consumer fraud department, so I don't think they rate too highly in terms of political gravitas at the AG's office. But yeah, O'Connor is just another Stitt yes man. Mike Hunter shouldn't have resigned over a stupid affair. Get a divorce, sure. He had to know what would happen when he stepped aside.

[Swake]

The founders of Epic Schools have been arrested.

https://www.newson6.com/story/62b4b8...hools-arrested

[Pete]

The co-founders of Epic Charter Schools have been arrested on charges of financial crimes, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced.

Ben Harris, David Chaney and the chief financial officer for their company, Josh Brock, were taken into custody at 10 a.m. Thursday, the OSBI said.

Harris, Chaney and Brock were arrested on charges of embezzlement of state funds, racketeering, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a felony, violations of the state computer crimes act, submitting false documents to the state and unlawful proceeds.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...ey/7714825001/

[Laramie]

This is the very reason why you have regulations put in place when it concerns schools, to track accountability especially when funds are involved.

Charter Schools must be linked to a school district, where daily, monthly and fiscal monitoring of general fund accounts are reported; funds should require two signatures and all accounts go thru the Office of the Board Clerk. It's a longer accounting process...

Understand that people don't like red tape--Epic is an example of what can happen when there doesn't seem to be anything in place.

[Pete]

You can read the entire 59-page charging document here:

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...ging-documents