Tulsa school district invokes obscure law to avoid immediate release of state audit

Yahoo

11-02-2025

An audit of Tulsa Public Schools more than two years in the making was set to be announced Tuesday, but State Auditor Cindy Byrd said the district has invoked an obscure state law that will prevent her from releasing the findings for up to 14 days.
A noticeably agitated Byrd said the district notified her of its decision Tuesday morning. She said the district's decision is consistent with its 'pattern of behavior' ever since Gov. Kevin Stitt called for the audit in July 2022 and that the district has placed 'constant obstacles' in the path of her office as the audit has progressed. She said that's why it's taken so long to complete the audit.
The statute cited by the district reads, 'Except for audits requested by a prosecutorial agency, the findings of an audit performed on any school district by any agency, or on behalf of or at the direction of any state agency, shall be discussed with the members of the board of education and the superintendent or a designee of the affected school district at least fourteen (14) days prior to the release of the audit to the public.'
Byrd said in her 28 years of conducting government audits, 'including countless school districts, no one has ever invoked this statute – ever,' she said.
'The audit is complete and the findings are significant, but you're not allowed to see it,' Byrd said.
The Tulsa school district, the largest in the state, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Stitt alleged, when calling for the audit, that the district was suspected of 'potential mishandling of public funds' and of violating House Bill 1775, a law that bans the teaching of certain racial and gender topics in Oklahoma classrooms.
In 2022, the district reported it discovered suspicious expenses within its talent management department. An audit conducted then found its former chief talent and equity officer, Devin Fletcher, received more than $50,000 from vendors contracted with the school district and he authorized vendors to make similarly questionable payments to other Tulsa district employees, the Tulsa World reported. Fletcher was convicted and is serving time in federal prison.
The Tulsa superintendent at the time, Deborah Gist, resigned in August 2023 and was succeeded by Ebony Johnson.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tulsa Public Schools delays release of audit using obscure state law