Latest news with #EpicCharterSchool
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What's next for Epic Charter School after layoffs, resignations?
Families and educators at Epic Charter School now face a summer of uncertainty as the charter school system downsizes its staff, facilities and course offerings. A leadership change and a state investigation have piled on top of the cuts. The virtual charter school's superintendent, Bart Banfield, resigned Monday, days after Epic laid off 357 teachers and administrators. Its deputy superintendent of finance, Jeanise Wynn, resigned April 11. 'There hasn't been much transparency about why and what are we doing,' Epic teacher and parent Sarah Kitterman said. 'What actions are we taking to make sure this changes and we don't do this again?' Kitterman, of Edmond, said Epic lost programs that were difference-makers for students. Her own children benefited from a now-eliminated ELA+ program that offered bonus reading classes. Students won't get that extra English language arts instruction without the program, she said, and it's unclear how Epic will repeat the 'incredible' learning gains that ELA+ produced. A similar Math+ program has been reduced to grades 6-12 only. The closure of Epic's Blended Learning Centers is a loss, too, Kitterman said. The centers, which offered in-person instruction in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, often had waiting lists. Students with disabilities especially sought a place at the learning centers, said Kitterman, a special education teacher. 'Does that mean that we're going to have an overload of students on our rosters now?' she said. 'We can't serve those students the same way that they were being served. So where do those students go?' Epic announced it would give students from the learning centers priority in another face-to-face instructional option, Comet Academy. Also gone are Epic's options for full-time in-person instruction five days a week, its school meal services, and all of its Chinese and Latin courses. Other services, like Advanced Placement courses, have been outsourced to other entities, some now costing a fee. 'These changes are part of our ongoing reorganization to better serve the 30,000 students statewide who choose Epic for their education, and to position the state's largest public virtual charter school for strength and success in the years to come,' the school told families in an email last week. Members of Epic's school board spoke little of the school's financial situation Thursday in their first meeting since the layoffs and Banfield's departure. The board, which is scheduled to meet again Tuesday, approved a new treasurer, assistant treasurer and encumbrance clerk for Epic, who will join the new chief financial officer, Michael Flory. The school board has yet to approve a budget for the 2025-26 school year, which must be done before the next fiscal year begins on July 1. The Statewide Charter School Board, a state agency that oversees Epic, is now investigating the school's finances. After its enrollment skyrocketed to over 60,000 children in 2020, Epic has steadily lost students and, as a result, state funding. An influx of federal pandemic aid funds also came to an end in September. To make matters worse, Epic administrators significantly miscalculated when crafting their budget for the 2024-25 academic year. Enrollment came in 4,000 students short of what administrators expected, prompting a round of layoffs in October that cost 144 jobs. The cuts continued this month when Epic slashed 83 teaching positions and 274 administrators. Banfield soon followed out the door. 'At Epic, we often say, 'The only constant is change,'' Banfield wrote in his resignation letter, which Oklahoma Voice obtained. 'Over the course of this school year, it has become clear to me that it is time for a new chapter. With deep gratitude, I am formally submitting my resignation. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Board of Education, the Epic staff, and most importantly, the hundreds of thousands of families who have chosen Epic as their school of choice since 2011. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you over the past 11 years. I wish you the very best. Go Comets!' Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Justin Hunt will serve as interim superintendent while the board searches for a candidate to hire permanently. 'I appreciate the trust and respect, and (I'm) looking forward to moving into next school year for the 30,000 kids that need us and choose us as a school option,' Hunt said during Thursday's school board meeting. As for Kitterman, she plans to return for her fourth school year teaching at Epic, and her three children will continue to attend, she said. Until this point, Kitterman has felt like a valued employee, she said, but the lack of transparency around the layoffs and cuts put that sense of value in doubt. 'I plan to stay as long as Epic is open,' Kitterman said. 'We've loved it, so that's my hope. It's just so scary.' Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@ Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Epic Charter School downsizing staff, facilities, course offerings
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Uncertainty abounds at Epic Charter School after cuts, resignations
Epic Charter School is headquartered at the 50 Penn Place complex in Oklahoma City. The virtual charter school laid off 357 employees this month. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Families and educators at Epic Charter School now face a summer of uncertainty as the charter school system downsizes its staff, facilities and course offerings. A leadership change and a state investigation have piled on top of the cuts. The virtual charter school's superintendent, Bart Banfield, resigned Monday, days after Epic laid off 357 teachers and administrators. Its deputy superintendent of finance, Jeanise Wynn, resigned April 11. 'There hasn't been much transparency about why and what are we doing,' Epic teacher and parent Sarah Kitterman said. 'What actions are we taking to make sure this changes and we don't do this again?' Kitterman, of Edmond, said Epic lost programs that were difference-makers for students. Her own children benefited from a now-eliminated ELA+ program that offered bonus reading classes. Students won't get that extra English language arts instruction without the program, she said, and it's unclear how Epic will repeat the 'incredible' learning gains that ELA+ produced. A similar Math+ program has been reduced to grades 6-12 only. The closure of Epic's Blended Learning Centers is a loss, too, Kitterman said. The centers, which offered in-person instruction in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, often had waiting lists. Students with disabilities especially sought a place at the learning centers, said Kitterman, a special education teacher. 'Does that mean that we're going to have an overload of students on our rosters now?' she said. 'We can't serve those students the same way that they were being served. So where do those students go?' Epic announced it would give students from the learning centers priority in another face-to-face instructional option, Comet Academy. Also gone are Epic's options for full-time in-person instruction five days a week, its school meal services, and all of its Chinese and Latin courses. Other services, like Advanced Placement courses, have been outsourced to other entities, some now costing a fee. 'These changes are part of our ongoing reorganization to better serve the 30,000 students statewide who choose Epic for their education, and to position the state's largest public virtual charter school for strength and success in the years to come,' the school told families in an email last week. Members of Epic's school board spoke little of the school's financial situation Thursday in their first meeting since the layoffs and Banfield's departure. The board, which is scheduled to meet again Tuesday, approved a new treasurer, assistant treasurer and encumbrance clerk for Epic, who will join the new chief financial officer, Michael Flory. The school board has yet to approve a budget for the 2025-26 school year, which must be done before the next fiscal year begins on July 1. The Statewide Charter School Board, a state agency that oversees Epic, is now investigating the school's finances. After its enrollment skyrocketed to over 60,000 children in 2020, Epic has steadily lost students and, as a result, state funding. An influx of federal pandemic aid funds also came to an end in September. To make matters worse, Epic administrators significantly miscalculated when crafting their budget for the 2024-25 academic year. Enrollment came in 4,000 students short of what administrators expected, prompting a round of layoffs in October that cost 144 jobs. The cuts continued this month when Epic slashed 83 teaching positions and 274 administrators. Banfield soon followed out the door. 'At Epic, we often say, 'The only constant is change,'' Banfield wrote in his resignation letter, which Oklahoma Voice obtained. 'Over the course of this school year, it has become clear to me that it is time for a new chapter. With deep gratitude, I am formally submitting my resignation. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Board of Education, the Epic staff, and most importantly, the hundreds of thousands of families who have chosen Epic as their school of choice since 2011. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you over the past 11 years. I wish you the very best. Go Comets!' Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Justin Hunt will serve as interim superintendent while the board searches for a candidate to hire permanently. 'I appreciate the trust and respect, and (I'm) looking forward to moving into next school year for the 30,000 kids that need us and choose us as a school option,' Hunt said during Thursday's school board meeting. As for Kitterman, she plans to return for her fourth school year teaching at Epic, and her three children will continue to attend, she said. Until this point, Kitterman has felt like a valued employee, she said, but the lack of transparency around the layoffs and cuts put that sense of value in doubt. 'I plan to stay as long as Epic is open,' Kitterman said. 'We've loved it, so that's my hope. It's just so scary.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Epic Charter School superintendent resigns after major cuts to staff, facilities
Epic Charter School Superintendent Bart Banfield speaks at a meeting of the school's governing board on Nov. 14 at the 50 Penn Place complex in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid mass layoffs of educators, the superintendent of Epic Charter School has resigned. The virtual charter school announced Monday that Bart Banfield has stepped down after six years in charge. Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Justin Hunt will lead the school in the interim while Epic's governing board searches for a permanent hire. Banfield led Epic during multiple turbulent periods while the school weathered criminal investigations, a forensic audit, a threat of closure and up-and-down enrollment. 'Bart Banfield's leadership has helped shape our school and strengthen its mission to provide an exceptional, personalized education for students across Oklahoma,' Ginger Casper, president of Epic's school board, said. 'We are grateful for his contributions and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.' During Banfield's tenure, Epic rapidly grew into the largest school district in Oklahoma in 2020 as families sought online schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Epic, now the state's third-largest district, has experienced declining enrollment ever since, which contributed to pay cuts and layoffs in October. District officials at the time said they overestimated their yearly enrollment by 4,000 students. This month, the school eliminated 357 teaching and administrative jobs in the latest round of staff cuts. It will close its in-person learning centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well. Epic's finances have been under the microscope for several years. The school's co-founders, Ben Harris and David Chaney, were charged in 2022 with embezzlement, racketeering and a litany of other financial crimes stemming from their leadership of Epic. Harris and Chaney deny allegations that they wrongfully pocketed millions of taxpayer dollars intended for Epic students. Former Epic CFO Josh Brock also was charged in the case and has agreed to testify against the co-founders in exchange for no prison time. Banfield succeeded Chaney as Epic's superintendent in 2019. He first joined Epic in 2014 as assistant superintendent of instruction. Harris and Chaney, whose company was paid to manage the school, remained intricately linked with Epic until 2021, when the school's governing board cut ties with them and their business. While facing threats of closure from the state, Epic's governing board and Banfield's administration implemented financial, organizational and transparency reforms that converted the school into a self-run entity without an outside company involved in its management. Until 2021, Harris and Chaney's company had run and profited from Epic since they founded the school in 2011. Hunt, who is now interim superintendent, experienced the transition along with Banfield. He was hired in 2017 as managing director of instruction and became deputy superintendent of instruction in 2021. 'Mr. Hunt brings with him a strong commitment to Epic's mission and a deep understanding of our community's needs,' Casper said. 'We are confident that his leadership will ensure continuity and stability as we move forward.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prom 2025: All the glamorous photos from around Oklahoma City, OK County
Prom season 2025 is here! Oklahoma loves to celebrate its high school students at prom, and this year's season is going to be huge. The Oklahoman's photojournalists travel across the metro to document the special nights for teens and their loved ones. Stay tuned throughout the weeks as we add more galleries. Here's a look at the prom nights that have happened so far. Want to share your prom snapshots? Submit your photos here to be included in our gallery. Carl Albert's prom was held at the Oklahoma History Center. Epic Charter School's Oklahoma City-area prom was held at the Sam Noble Museum in Norman, Oklahoma. John Marshall's prom was held at the Central Oklahoma Homebuilders Association. Putnam City's prom was held at the OKC Farmer's Market in Oklahoma City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Prom 2025 photos: OKC schools celebrate in style
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma County judge in charge of Epic co-founders' case faces another request to recuse
Epic Charter School co-founders David Chaney, left, and Ben Harris, right, attend a preliminary hearing on March 27, 2024, at the Oklahoma County Courthouse in Oklahoma City. Prosecutors laid out evidence against Harris and Chaney in hopes of establishing probable cause for charges of alleged financial crimes. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — After a year on hold, there's still no end in sight for the criminal case against the co-founders of Epic Charter School. Yet another delay emerged Friday as defendant David Lee Chaney, 45, requested that the judge in charge of the case recuse, said an attorney who attended a closed-door meeting where the request was made. Fellow co-founder Benjamin Scott Harris, 49, kept the case in limbo for much of the past year while pursuing the same tactic. Harris and Chaney were charged in 2022 with racketeering and a litany of financial crimes. Prosecutors alleged the co-founders engineered a complex scheme to enrich themselves with millions of taxpayer dollars intended for Epic students. The co-founders, who started Epic in 2011, deny that any of their business practices were illegal. Their attorneys said Harris and Chaney were successful businessmen following the advice of their legal counsel while their virtual charter school rapidly grew into the largest public school system in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Epic cut all ties with the co-founders in 2021. The school educates nearly 31,000 students across Oklahoma, about half as many as it did during its peak enrollment in 2020. Prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office began laying out their case against Harris and Chaney in a preliminary hearing in March 2024. A judge would decide after the hearing concludes whether the state has collected enough evidence for the case to continue to trial. A week wasn't enough time for attorneys on both sides of the case to question witnesses and discuss evidence. Similarly, a year hasn't been enough to resolve various conflicts that have blocked the hearing from proceeding. On the day the preliminary hearing was meant to resume in May, attorneys representing the case's star witness and co-defendant, former Epic CFO Joshua Aaron Brock, filed a request for Chaney's lawyer to recuse. Brock, 43, contended that Chaney's attorney, Gary Wood, used to represent him, too. It would be unethical for Wood to cross-examine a former client, his filing stated. Wood denied ever representing Brock. Before the matter of Wood's disqualification was resolved, an attorney representing Harris called for the judge in charge of the case to recuse last year. Defense attorney Joe White accused district Judge Susan Stallings of having bias in favor of the prosecution. Stallings would preside over the co-founders' trial, if the case ever gets that far, and she is tasked with deciding whether Wood should be disqualified. Stallings refused to step down from the case, and White appealed the decision three times. His string of appeals came to an end in February when the Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to hear his arguments, instead opting to uphold lower court decisions that favored keeping Stallings on the case. Now, Chaney has asked Stallings to recuse. His attorney, Wood, made the request in a confidential meeting with the judge on Friday. Afterward, Wood declined to comment on any matters discussed in the closed courtroom. The Attorney General's Office also declined to comment. Another attorney present in the meeting, Chris Box, who represents Brock, confirmed Wood asked Stallings to disqualify herself because a lawyer from the Attorney General's Office represented her in the prior recusal appeals. Box said the judge will hear the disqualification request again in a public hearing at 2:30 p.m. May 2. If the past year is any indication, it could take several months to resolve the dispute. Attorneys requesting that a judge step down first do so in private, like what happened Friday. If the judge declines, the attorney could repeat the request in a public court hearing. If denied again, the attorney could appeal to the county's chief district judge, a role the district judges accept on a rotating basis. Then, the matter could be elevated to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and finally the state Supreme Court. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
