Ginger Casper

The meeting commenced with a call to order and compliance statement with the Open Meeting Act. Key discussion points included the potential approval of a new Board member, directing Legal Services to update the Consent Agenda Policy and Financial Policies, and modifying the organizational structure of Community Strategies Inc. regarding the reporting structure of the Deputy Superintendent of Legal Services (to become General Counsel) and the Executive Director of Human Resources. The agenda also included a presentation regarding the Statewide Charter School Board Forensic Investigation Report for Epic Charter Schools and consideration for approving the 2026-2027 Academic Year Calendar. Financial updates involved acknowledging the October, November, and December 2025 financial statements. Further actions included approving contracts for graduation facility use with the University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa, and approving a facility lease contract with Xavier Venture Properties, LLC, and a facility use contract with Central Oklahoma Family Medical Center Inc. Consent Agenda items covered approving minutes from a previous special board meeting, purchase orders, payroll activity, and employee changes.

The board meeting addressed governance matters, including the approval of a new board member, Eddie Havaril, who brings financial expertise. Key discussions also involved directing the Department of Legal Services to update the consent agenda policy and to develop new financial policies for the entire system, following findings from a statewide charter board forensic investigation. Organizational chart modifications were approved, specifically titling the deputy superintendent of legal services as general counsel reporting directly to the board, and moving the executive director of human resources to report to the superintendent. A presentation was given on the forensic investigation, which identified systematic weaknesses in budgeting and financial monitoring but found no evidence of fraud, with 12 of 15 audit findings already addressed or in progress. The board also approved the 2026-2027 academic year calendar and reviewed financial statements for October, November, and December 2025, noting positive revenue variances and lower than budgeted expenses year-to-date.

The meeting agenda included the consideration and possible action to accept the Epic School financial audit for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The auditor presented the findings, noting an unmodified opinion on the financial statements presented in the regulatory format, although an adverse opinion was noted regarding GAAP conformity, which is standard for nearly all Oklahoma schools. No material weaknesses or significant findings were identified, and the cooperation from staff was highlighted as excellent. Discussion also covered the decrease in fund balance due to a short-term loan taken out prior to June 30th, which the staff is reportedly on schedule to repay. Committee reports included a discussion by the Audit Committee regarding the line of credit, possible early payoffs, and projections of interest savings. The board also addressed the reappointment of Trevor Himmons to the board for another three-year term. Finally, the board discussed the quarterly requirement for student transfer capabilities and enrollment caps, with a recommendation to set the effective date to March 1st rather than the statutory deadline of April 1st to allow teachers more runway before state testing begins.

The board addressed agenda items starting with the consent agenda, which included three items for approval. The board proceeded to discuss matters in executive session, after which they returned to open session. Key discussions and actions included the hiring of Shawn Ross as the new Superintendent of Epic Public Schools, with a motion to pay a salary of $250,000 per year with a start date as soon as possible. Additionally, the board voted to continue Justin Hunt as interim superintendent with an additional stipend of $15,000 and appointed Justin Hunt as the assistant superintendent with a salary of $235,000 per year.

This virtual expo presents an overview of Epic Charter School's learning models and programs for 2024. It details the Comet Academy, a hybrid instruction model offering in-person meetings, specialized teachers, field trips, and community service, with plans for continued expansion to higher grades. The expo also covers the One-on-One model, emphasizing individualized curriculum, flexible scheduling, and strong parent-teacher-student relationships. Additionally, it highlights Learning Centers as physical locations providing direct, data-driven instruction, remediation, enrichment, and various extracurricular opportunities. The overarching goal is to provide diverse educational choices that meet individual student needs and foster community engagement.