![]() ![]() Stehno, in her letter, described the exchange as “unkind and unprofessional.” In this video clip from the Epic Charter School board meeting on Nov. 17 board meeting why the board wasn’t notified of the layoffs before they saw it in the news, Campbell replied: “I feel very confident that this has been well thought through, and there’s been a lot of empathy poured into this, and I’m surprised you’re surprised, to be honest with you.” Board members found out about the layoffs through news reports. ![]() She also raised concerns about data the internal auditor collected revealing “extremely large and unapproved bonuses that exceeded employee contracts without board approval.” These large compensation packages and raises for staff led her to question the layoffs in November. Stehno’s letter claims the practice continued. Several teachers sued the school over it and their cases were settled last year. She’s an assistant professor of education at Southwestern Christian University, has a doctorate in educational leadership and 42 years of experience in education, including classroom teaching and as a university researcher.Īn Oklahoma Watch investigation in 2019 revealed Epic’s practice of withdrawing large numbers of students for truancy. Stehno was the longest serving board member, having been appointed to the Epic board in December 2020 as the school began a full board turnover. Stehno did confirm the authenticity of the letter. Stehno, when reached by phone Saturday, declined to comment. “It is alarming that the school does not have a method for employees to report fraud to the Community Strategies Board without fear of retaliation and threats to their employment,” she wrote.įormer Epic Teachers Sue School Over Firing, Alleging Enrollment Manipulation Maintaining an internal auditor is one of many stipulations Epic agreed to save its school from closure earlier this year by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. Stehno, in her letter, said that the entire internal auditing team has been terminated. 12 as part of a “reduction in force” that school officials claimed was a “right-sizing” of the organization as a result of losing 33,000 students in fall of 2021, records show. ![]() Three others on the schools’ internal auditing team were terminated Nov. An investigative audit released in October 2020 found the school exceeded administrative spending by millions of dollars, and they have been ordered to return $11 million to the state. The school board in May cut ties with founders David Chaney and Ben Harris and their private for-profit management company, Epic Youth Services. Preliminary results from the internal investigation have not shown any evidence of the allegations made by (Stehno).” Epic is conducting an internal investigation, recusing any members accused. In a statement sent late Saturday, LeBarre wrote: “Epic takes any allegation received about personnel seriously. When reached by phone Saturday, Campbell referred questions to Epic’s new communications manager, Chelsi LeBarre. Epic’s Board Vice Chair Resigns, Asks for Investigation into Misconduct - Oklahoma Watch CloseĮpic’s New Board Chair Founded a Charter School.
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