Lawmakers, Epic School Board To Discuss Audit

The state's investigative audit into Epic Charter School will be the focus of a House committee meeting and two Epic school board meetings Wednesday afternoon.

At 1:30 p.m., Oklahoma's House Education Committee will hear from both state auditor Cindy Byrd and State Superintendent Joy Hofmiester on the audit.

The audit alleges millions of taxpayer dollars were mishandled, and now the state board of education is ordering Epic return more than $11 million to the state treasury.

The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee for Education, chaired by State Reps. Rhonda Baker and Mark McBride will also be a part of Wednesday afternoon's hearing.

“This is not about the EPIC teachers or the students, or anything like this,” McBride said. “This is basically just about: how the money was spent? Is there a problem?”

Epic's assistant superintendent said the audit will also be the main topic of Wednesday night’s school board meetings for both of the district's programs.

News 9 was told both are planning to go into executive session and could take action Wednesday night.

"You have my word that EPIC is fully prepared to work cooperatively with this board, the State Department of Education and special council in pursuit of the facts," says Bart Banfield the Superintendent of Epic Charter Schools.

Those meetings will be at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. They can be watched live on Epic's Facebook page.