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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- 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
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More questions, calls for accountability after Epic superintendent resigns
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Less than a week after layoffs left Epic Charter Schools educators stunned, the district's longtime superintendent has resigned—leading to more questions and renewed calls for week, News 4 reported Epic laid off more than 350 employees, including nearly 100 teachers and all the district's principals—without giving remaining educators a game plan. 'We have not been told any information,' one teacher told News 4. 'How do you have a school without a principal?'Now, the person whose job it would be to come up with that game plan has thrown in the superintendent and CEO Bart Banfield resigned on been with the charter district since 2014, becoming superintendent in led the school through a massive scandal when a grand jury indicted its three founders in 2022, accusing them of embezzling millions in taxpayer dollars from the was also at the helm during a round of teacher layoffs in October, blamed on declining post-COVID Monday, News 4 uncovered Epic payroll records showing, as enrollment went down, Banfield's yearly pay went up—from $276,885 in 2022 to $329,381 by teachers spared in last week's layoffs told News 4 Epic made them sign agreements to cut their base pay by one-third or lose their jobs.'Everything felt like maybe a little bit disingenuous because it felt more like we are a machine than we are a public school system,' one teacher who lost their jobs felt blindsided.'We just had our graduation ceremonies last weekend. There was no word then about anything like this,' a laid-off employee Sen. Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City) said she isn't sure something so out-of-the-blue would have been allowed to happen if Epic were a traditional public school district.'It's a charter school,' Hicks said. 'They don't have a publicly elected school board that is really vetting these decisions. Their response, to be accountable to the public is very different than a traditional public school.'Former State Rep. Mark McBride, who chaired the House Education Committee when Epic's founders were indicted in 2022, sees a lot of parallels in the district's new issues.'It's the same—it's the same problem of managing money,' McBride said. 'I'll still always question whether this is a viable charter school for the state, because it seems like there's always something following them around from the beginning.'Hicks sees a potential solution.'When we look at states like North Carolina and other states across the country, they have very different models set up that would help prevent and protect the public from the actions that we're currently seeing from Epic Charter Schools,' Hicks said the power to get there lies solely with lawmakers.'I think it's time to really look at some significant changes that would actually bring a stronger voice to the public and make sure that all charter schools are accountable to the public,' Hicks 4 reached out to the president of the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, which oversees Epic, to ask if he or the board had any thoughts on Banfield's 4 did not hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma school district slashes nearly 360 jobs in ‘streamlining measures'
An Epic Charter Schools sign advertises a location near Interstate 35 north of Oklahoma City. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) Epic Charter Schools, one of Oklahoma's largest school districts, announced mass layoffs Tuesday, resulting in 357 job losses. In a move the district called in a statement, 'significant streamlining measures,' Epic has not renewed contracts for 83 teachers and 274 administrators for the next school year. That accounts for about 6% of teachers and more than one-third of administrators. It will also close its in-person learning centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City and discontinue breakfast and lunch services. Epic Superintendent Bart Banfield said in a statement the school was committed to 'supporting those impacted with compassion and transparency.' 'We are grateful to every member of the Epic team for the passion and care they bring to our community,' Banfield said. 'This transition is about preserving and strengthening our ability to serve students for years to come.' In an email obtained by StateImpact, staff were told by Epic they would lose access to Epic systems and facilities 'shortly,' and benefits, including healthcare, which will terminate at the end of the month. Staff are also required to return all Epic property before June 9. In another staff email obtained by StateImpact, Epic said it would discontinue its Chinese and Latin course offerings and outsource and charge students $275 for German and French courses unless they have completed German I or French I during the previous school year. Epic also announced in the email students will no longer have access to one free concurrent college course. Going forward, students must purchase all courses through the Learning Fund, which is a $1,000 allocation Epic provides for each student. English language arts (ELA) and math are also affected. Epic's ELA+ will be discontinued, and Math+ will only be offered to students in grades 6-12 rather than 3-12. The courses provide live, virtual instruction to students two to three times a week. AP courses will also now be outsourced, and students' Learning Fund will be charged $100 for 'specialty' courses. The move follows cuts in October of nearly 150 Epic employees. At the time, Epic said it had overestimated the number of students who would enroll by about 4,000. This article was originally published by StateImpact Oklahoma. StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma's public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EPIC Charter Schools lays off more than 300 staffers as it cuts learning centers
EPIC Charter Schools is ending its learning center model, effectively terminating 357 employees, including teachers and administrative staff. The online-based charter school is closing two learning centers in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa. The sites were staffed with teachers from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for students who wanted in-person education. As a result of the closures, 83 teachers and 274 administrative staffers lost their jobs, according to a news release from the district. The district described the move as a way to "align its resources with its educational priorities." 'This transition is about preserving and strengthening our ability to serve students for years to come,' said EPIC Charter Schools Superintendent Bart Banfield. Rob Crissinger, a spokesperson for the school, said employees who lost their jobs were told about the closures on Tuesday, June 3. More: OKCPS board takes first step toward revoking contract with Montessori charter school EPIC Charter Schools served over 27,000 students in 2024. About 1,400 students attended learning centers, Crissinger said. The district said teachers will be able to meet one-on-one with students in the spaces where the learning centers were located. In a statement, Shelly Hickman, communications director for the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, said the board will be looking into the matter, as it would with any school in a similar situation. The charter school's announcement comes about seven months after the district laid off 144 employees in October 2024, including 42 teachers and implemented pay cuts. Those cuts occurred after 4,000 fewer students enrolled in the 2024-25 school year than administrators anticipated, as reported by online news outlet Oklahoma Voice. At the time, the district reduced its teacher corps by 2.9%. This time, that number is 5.9%. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: EPIC Charter Schools cuts more than 300 jobs, closes learning centers
