This post is a continuation of the Financial Issues section in Epic Questions... As we try to "follow the money" in Epic OCAS reports from 2014 through 2018, it becomes increasingly difficult - as those responsible for reporting.. change expenditure codes each year. For example, 2014-2015 Epic expenditures show that General Administration Function 2319 (Other Board of Education Services), Object 320 (Professional-Education Services) spent $2,243,165.29.. In other words, these tax dollars were spent for general administrative purposes. During the same 2014-2015 school year, Epic reported spending $3,379,498.14 for Function 1000 Instruction, Object 320 (Professional-Education Services).
In 2015-2016, Epic reported $0 spent for Function 2319, Object 320... but $5,958,268.58 spent for Function 1000, Object 320. For easy comparison, the data in a table:
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017
Admin. Ob. 320 - $2,243,165.29 $ 0 $ 0
Instruct. Ob. 320 - $3,379,498.14 $5,958,268.58 $8,903,954.17
In comparing expenditures from 2014-2015 with expenditures from 2015-2016, it appears as if the Object 320 for Administrative functions in '14-'15 was added to the Instruction function in '14 -'15 to arrive at the total for Instruction in '15 - '16 ($2,243,165 + $3,379,498 = $5,622,663 is surprisingly close to $5,958,269). One obvious answer to the questionable reporting discrepancy from 2014-2015 to 2015-2016... is that Epic administrators suddenly became teachers. Or... it's a transparent attempt to disguise administrative costs as instructional. Another question arises from "following the tax dollars", though, which is much more important: Did Epic officials spend funds intended for student Instruction for buying influence?
Another example of misspending of taxpayer dollars is the fact that, once enrolled, an Epic student may receive up to $1,000 for "education" related items and experiences. A student may also have additional money deposited in his or her "education checking account" for recruiting new students. Education supplies include textbooks, computers, electronic tablets, printers, multi-media materials, etc.. Education experiences include private sports lessons and "educational" field trips... Any student must justify the education expenditure to the "Chiefs" by providing reason that the item or experience is related to his or her "education". In other words, if private golf lessons at the local country club can be justified as appropriately education related, then a student may write a taxpayer check for them. If a student can justify a "Cancun vacation" as an education related field trip, then he or she may write a taxpayer check for it. If the parent of a student can justify a $1,000 donation to his or her favorite Epic elected official as "education" related, then the parent may write a "taxpayer" check for it...
Updated Dec. 11, 2018: In an effort to curb what many believe is "misappropriation" of tax dollars - Senator Ron Sharp (R) of Shawnee has sponsored Senate Bill 20, which will require the "statewide virtual charter school board to create and administer an inventory system for all educational supplies paid for by state-appropriated funds". In other words, each student receiving state appropriated funds for appropriate education supplies, must return the supplies to the state upon graduation or leaving. If the items are not returned to the state, the parent shall be responsible for the cost of the "items". Many Oklahoma citizens believe that since public tax dollars are being used to pay for personal education supplies and items (the textbooks, computers, etc...) should be inventoried, just as they are in traditional public schools. The only question is How will those golf lessons or Cancun vacation be inventoried?
Senate Bill 879 continued on the next page...
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