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The Oklahoma Condition Office of Schooling will release the conclusions of its investigation into Epic Charter Faculties immediately after a former board member alleged intimidation and harassment having spot inside the administration.
State Superintendent Pleasure Hofmeister and other OSDE officers will present the results at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The division released the investigation in December not “allegations of fraud, suppression of fraud, intimidation and harassment in the workplace, as effectively as alleged violations of the Open up Meetings Act,” in accordance to a observe of grievance OSDE despatched to Epic Constitution Colleges Superintendent Bart Banfield.
Connected: OSDE Investigates Complaints Against Epic Charter Universities
Former board member Kathryn Stehno advised the OSDE that many employees complained to her about alleged intimidation and harassment by Paul Campbell, the chair of Epic’s board.
Below is an excerpt of Stehno’s resignation letter.
“According to these females, they have been yelled at, berated, matter to profane opinions and implied threats to their employment. All explained an normally-hostile work natural environment. These gals expressed anxiety of retaliation in generating their issues public, in particular considering the fact that they point out Superintendent Banfield was well informed and possibly also complicit.”
Information 9 contacted Campbell and Epic Constitution Educational facilities Tuesday early morning for comment.
A 2020 audit by the Oklahoma Auditor & Inspector, Cindy Byrd, discovered hundreds of thousands in community funding despatched to Epic had been eventually invested on the school’s California branch, and that the school exceeded the administrative expense cap. As a end result of the audit, the point out has withheld $20 million from Epic Constitution Faculties, according to Byrd’s office environment.
Relevant: Oklahoma To Withhold $9.1 Million From Epic Constitution Faculties For Poor Paying out
Byrd’s business office explained Tuesday it is nonetheless auditing the Student Discovering Fund, which is managed by Epic’s mum or dad business: Neighborhood Tactics Inc. The fund has obtained $145 million in taxpayer pounds given that 2015.
This posting will be up-to-date. News 9’s Barry Mangold will have much more tonight on Information 9 at 5 p.m. and News On 6 at 6 p.m.
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