Epic Has Your Personal Information

   Many of Oklahoma's 40,000 teachers are disturbed, and rightfully so, that traditional public school hater groups such as the OCPA - has teacher personal information. Just this past week, many traditional public school educators received - through their personal mail or personal e-mail accounts - a message from Ray Carter, journalist for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Mr. Carter begins -

When news broke that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation had filed a search warrant accusing Epic Charter Schools of receiving state funding for "ghost students" who did not attend school through the online provider ..., it understandably drew concerns from all quarters.

But as that investigation proceeds, it has indirectly highlighted a less well-known fact: Many traditional public schools, all across Oklahoma, are receiving funding to educate similar "ghost students" who no longer attend those schools...

   Before we address the "big lie" in the second paragraph above, we should determine how a "teacher hating group" acquired teacher personal information. The source was either Shelly Hickman, Epic Assistant Superintendent, who originally acquired the teacher information from Brad Clark, OSDE General Counsel, through an "open records" request several months ago - or the OSDE and Joy Hofmeister... through an "open records" request. Bear in mind that the OSDE was not required to provide the teacher personal information, as stated by Brad Clark, until a judge ordered it - but did so anyway. Epic has provided at least one Oklahoma County District Judge with campaign funds, so a judge may have eventually ordered the release of the personal teacher information, but maybe not. It is also important to note the connections and conflicts of interest in this case - Previous to being employed by the OSDE as Joy Hofmeister's attorney, Brad Clark was an attorney for Bill Hickman's  private law group. Bill Hickman is the husband of Shelly Hickman, Epic Assistant Superintendent. And then there's this: Ben Harris, Epic School owner and being investigated by the OSBI for "racketeering", says "I'm in pretty good with Joy" while offering to "rescue" Swink school district from consolidation. Another connection?

The Big Lie:
   Ray "Ray Ray" Carter was an editorial columnist for the Daily Oklahoman, before being employed by the OCPA to post negative traditional public school articles, some of which are lies. He is also the husband of Jennifer Carter, Janet Barresi's former Chief of Staff. Oklahoma State Senator Ron Sharp, a public school teacher for 38 years, knows "a thing or two" about public school funding and pyramid schemes in public schools, responded to Ray's article:

Yes Sir! Your article was excellent with contained valid points to consider.

However, a traditional public is attempting to provide a service the public demands the highest of standards. And, rightfully should be anticipated by our State taxpayers. They want a positive return on their investment!

However, there is not a profit motive in the traditional public schools. It is all to provide the best public education possible within the level of funding provided.

The apparent motive for the OSBI investigation into Epic Youth Services LLC appears to be the profit to the for-profit company's owners.

Dual enrollment in Epic and a private school, as reported in the OSBI document, is by willful intent to commit fraud and the subsequent embezzlement of State dollars, if the allegation(s) is proven.

A traditional public school superintendent, nor the teachers in the district, recruit students. And neither receive a financial bonus for the recruitment of new students...

What I have not seen before is a pyramid scheme so skillfully created as this appears to be with Epic! The apparent use of public funds to make its for-profit managers more of a profit is a masterful scheme! ...

State Senator Sharp then ends his response to Ray Carter with: I appreciate your diligence to investigative journalism. Thank You!

   If Ray Carter is not intentionally lying about traditional public schools having ghost students, then he is woefully ignorant about public school funding. I believe he's not ignorant at all, so that only leaves one option... Follow the money!