Epic Charter School, the largest online charter school in Oklahoma, is facing scrutiny following a forensic investigation that peeled back layers of its financial practices. With 28,500 students enrolled last year, you’d think they’d have a firm grip on budgeting. Instead, the report revealed alarming miscalculations and a significant overestimation of their student count for the upcoming year. Welcome to a case of budgeting gone wild!
The investigation, led by Carr, Riggs,&Ingram, highlighted how poorly the school managed its finances, particularly around staff hiring. They forecasted a whopping 33,000 students but, with a hiring spree that resulted in a staff of 2,300, they found themselves in hot water when actual enrollment didn’t meet expectations. Meanwhile, the budget for teacher salaries took a nosedive by $2.65 million. You could say their financial planning has more holes in it than Swiss cheese!
Jeanise Wynn, the former superintendent of finance, seemed to be running the budget show without much oversight from the governing board—asking only six questions during presentations last year, two of which were budget-related. This lack of scrutiny raises eyebrows about how financial decisions were made and who was keeping an eye on the purse strings. As new superintendent Shaun Ross steps in, the emphasis will be on fixing these mistakes and improving accountability. In the world of education, you can’t simply cut programs and hope for the best—every dollar counts, and transparency is key. How’s that for a lesson learned?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
