OKCPS Charter School Under Investigation For Academic, Financial Misconduct

A charter school sponsored by Oklahoma City Public Schools is under investigation for academic and financial misconduct. The district is in the process of auditing Harper Charter Academy on the northeast side of the city.

Harper Charter Academy has only been open for a year, and depending on the outcome of this investigation, it could close as soon as next summer.

It's a charter school designed to serve "high-risk" students. Here, they're promised a second chance at a place administrators call a "center for transformation and success."

Marc Flemon, manager at ICE event center and grill down the street from Harper, is very familiar with the students and staff. He says he saw some challenges.

Oklahoma City Public Schools is completing an investigation into the academics and operations of Harper Charter Academy.

The district released a statement which reads:

"Oklahoma City Public Schools is completing an investigation into the academics and operations of Harper Charter Academy. We are ensuring standards are being met for the school to effectively serve students. This process includes gathering information and it would be premature to provide additional details. The OKCPS Administration when alerted to any potential wrongdoing with any OKCPS charter school is obligated to complete an investigation and if necessary make appropriate recommendations for the OKCPS Board of Education to vote on."

We're told the school's principal, Tamara Washington was fired because of "academic deficiencies."

In a statement from the Harper Academy board of directors regarding the compliance audit, we were told,

"Harper Academy Charter School opened in August to serve a population of students not being served by traditional schools. Our mission is to provide our students with the skills, knowledge and values they need to become competent, productive citizens. We have gone through some changes since opening but the Board of Directors and staff is moving forward in the best interest of the children we are here to serve.

We are committed to our students and their families and want to resolve any issues that may exist in order to continue providing the students an education. We appreciate the involvement of Oklahoma City Public Schools as our sponsor and look forward to soon meeting with representatives from the school district to discuss the findings of the compliance audit. We are reserving any further comment until we are presented with those findings."

Harper Academy board members did not want to comment on camera pending the outcome of the investigation.

The former principal told News 9 during a phone conversation earlier Monday evening. She feels like she was wrongfully terminated.

We'll keep you posted.