{"id":689391,"date":"2021-12-07T18:16:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T00:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/?p=689391"},"modified":"2022-01-16T15:02:18","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T21:02:18","slug":"state-opens-investigation-of-epic-charter-schools-over-new-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2021\/12\/07\/state-opens-investigation-of-epic-charter-schools-over-new-allegations\/","title":{"rendered":"State Opens Investigation of Epic Charter Schools Over New Allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The state Department of Education is investigating “allegations of fraud, suppression of fraud, intimidation and harassment in the workplace” made against Epic Charter School’s board chairman by its former vice chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The State Department will be investigating these allegations and will seek to complete its review within the next (30) business days,” wrote Brad S. Clark, general counsel for the Department of Education, Tuesday in a letter sent to Epic Superintendent Bart Banfield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As a part of the investigation, the State Department will request your cooperation and will be requesting records that may provide evidence to substantiate or refute the allegations against the District.” (See full letter below)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a three-page letter announcing her resignation as the Epic board’s vice chair, Kathren Stehno detailed her concerns, which include harassment and intimidation of female employees creating \u201can often-hostile work environment.\u201d She also cited what she called alarming data about students withdrawn for truancy and violations of the state\u2019s Open Meetings Act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several women, who are current and former employees, reported being harassed by board Chairman Paul Campbell, Stehno wrote. \u201cThey have been yelled at, berated, subject to profane comments and implied threats to their employment,\u201d according to the letter. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\t\t

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Epic\u2019s Board Vice Chair Resigns, Asks for Investigation into Misconduct<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n

Additionally, Stehno\u2019s letter claims that when the board\u2019s internal auditor raised concerns about large, unapproved staff bonuses paid for with public funds, her position was threatened and she resigned. Linda Ladd was hired to be the board\u2019s internal auditor in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oklahoma’s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board also has begun an inquiry into Stehno’s allegations, Robert Franklin, the board’s chairman, told the Tulsa World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEpic takes any allegation received about personnel seriously,” Epic spokesperson Chelsi LeBarre wrote Saturday in response to an Oklahoma Watch inquiry. “Epic is conducting an internal investigation, recusing any members accused. Preliminary results from the internal investigation have not shown any evidence of the allegations made by (Stehno).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(This story will be updated)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this video clip from the Epic Charter School board meeting on Nov. 17, Vice Chair Kathren Stehno raises questions about Epic’s layoffs, drawing a response from board Chair Paul Campbell. The entire board meeting can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n