Clip

Aug 2019 Page resized

23 0006 142%

Alva Review-Courier

Investigators raid
online Oklahoma
charter school's vendor
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State investigators have raided a vendor
for an online Oklahoma charter school whose enrollment, funding and
some of its leaders are at the center of an investigation.
Agents from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation searched
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6FKRROVWRSURYLGHFRDFKLQJVHUYLFHVIRUVSRUWV7KHVHDUFKZDUUDQWD൶-
GDYLW¿OHG:HGQHVGD\UDLVHVQHZDOOHJDWLRQVRIHPEH]]OHPHQWIRUJHU\
and other violations against Epic co-founder and former superintendent
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two former board members.
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any wrongdoing. Epic attorney Chuck Richardson said the school and its
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The State Bureau of Investigation declined comment.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Enid News & Eagle

Aug
23
Oklahoma probe
2019

Page
of Epic expands
A001
Clip
resized
69%
to its CFO, board
By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoma Watch

A state investigation into Epic Charter Schools has

expanded to include the school’s chief financial officer
and four current or former board members, according to a
search warrant filed in Oklahoma County Wednesday.
In the affidavit for the search warrant, an Oklahoma
State Bureau of Investigation agent alleges Epic has been
using state-appropriated funds to
pay for students’ extracurricular
expenses through independent
vendors but reported those expen-
ditures to the state as “instruc-
tional services,” which the OSBI
agent alleges is fraud.
Named in the affidavit are Josh
Brock, the school’s CFO, who
made the purchases, as well as
Doug Scott, Travis Burkett, Mike
Cantrell and Peter Regan, who
are being investigated for allegedly neglecting their duty as
board members to oversee the school’s operations.
The search warrant was first reported by the Tulsa
World.
OSBI on Wednesday seized a laptop and bank state-
ments from OKC Storm Athletics, a Christian sports ven-
dor for home-school students, according to its website.
Epic pays vendors for student activities through what Epic
calls its “Learning Fund.”
The affidavit is the latest in an ongoing investigation
into financial wrongdoing at the state’s largest virtual char-
ter school.
Epic has denied any wrongdoing, and on Wednesday
afternoon issued a statement saying, “Epic and its founders
will continue to cooperate with investigators, who have
now been probing the school for more than six years. It is
See EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS PROBE, Page A3

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Enid News & Eagle

Aug
23
EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS PROBE
2019 Continued from Page A1
important to note that no charges have
Page ever been filed. We are confident that
A003 the end result of this investigation will
be as it has always been — no finding
Clip of wrongdoing.”
resized
50%
Epic is the only virtual school in
Oklahoma that uses a learning fund —
From essentially a portion of each student’s
A001 state funding ($800 to $1,000) that is
set aside to be used on curriculum, a
laptop rental, art supplies, workbooks
and other items of the family’s choos-
ing. Families also use the funds on a
variety of extracurricular activities, like
club sports, martial arts, dancing or
summer camps.
Parents don’t actually receive the
money directly but instead request a
purchase from Epic, which then pays A sign is seen outside of 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City where Epic Charter Schools leases
the vendors directly. The school now 40,000 square feet for administrative use. Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch
has more than 1,200 vendors.
The learning fund is a big recruit- transcript,” the affidavit states. In many through the school.
ment tool to attract families, and fami- cases, these weren’t. The agent cites a The school’s co-founders, Chaney
lies who refer new students are reward- statute he says is evidence the school and Ben Harris, split profits of $10
ed with an additional deposit into their committed fraud. million between 2013 and 2018, that
student’s fund. The agent in the affidavit accuses affidavit states.
According to the affidavit, Epic in Chaney and Brock of concealing fraud- OSBI’s investigation into Epic
2012 was advised by an attorney for ulent expenditures “by disguising the has been ongoing since 2013. When
its sponsoring school district at the payments as instructional services” and it’s complete, the agency is expected
time, Graham-Dustin Public Schools, falsifying corporate records. to present its findings to Oklahoma
that using the learning fund for extra- The OSBI agent reported at least County District Attorney’s Office for
curricular activities when the students two instances when Epic used vendors possible filing of criminal charges.
received no elective credit would vio- who were convicted felons. In addition, the school is undergo-
late state law. The OSBI also is investigating whe- ing an investigative audit by the State
David Chaney, a businessman who ther Burkett, Cantrell, Regan and Scott Auditor & Inspector, and at least two
co-founded the school, then opened neglected their duties as board mem- federal probes — by the Federal Bureau
a checking account for the learning bers in violation of the law. Cantrell, of Investigation and U.S. Department
fund and transferred state funds to it, head of an oil and gas company in Ada, of Education.
which Brock used to pay for students’ is a current board member and Scott, a The school also is facing a poten-
extracurricular activities, the affidavit Tulsa attorney, is chairman. Burkett and tial lawsuit by several former teachers,
states. Those purchases did not appear Regan are no longer on the board. who say they were pressured into with-
on Epic’s general fund payment reg- This search warrant is the second drawing and re-enrolling students to
ister and were reported to the state as in as many months filed by OSBI. In manipulate enrollment to improve the
“instructional services.” July, the agents seized an Epic teach- school’s report card grade.
Rebecca Wilkinson, executive direc- er’s computer and cellphone in search
tor of the Statewide Virtual Charter of evidence related to alleged embez-
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3)
School Board, told the OSBI agent that zlement of state funds and obtaining
instructional expenditures “must be a money under false pretenses, including corporation whose mission is to produce in-depth and
course supported by a teacher of record, through the use of “ghost students” investigative journalism on public-policy and quality-
a recorded grade and included on the who didn’t actually receive instruction of-life issues facing the state.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 McAlester News-Capital
State investigation of Epic expands to CFO, board
By JENNIFER
PALMER
OKLAHOMA WATCH
A state investigation into
Aug Epic Charter Schools has ex-
23 panded to include the school’s
chief financial officer and four
current or former board mem-
2019 bers, according to a search
warrant filed in Oklahoma
Page County Wednesday.
A002 In the affidavit for the search
warrant, an Oklahoma State
Clip Bureau of Investigation agent
resized alleges Epic has been using
53% state-appropriated funds to
pay for students’ extracurricu-
lar expenses through indepen-
dent vendors but reported
those expenditures to the state
as “instructional services,”
which the OSBI agent alleges
is fraud.
Named in the affidavit are
Josh Brock, the school’s CFO,
who made the purchases, as
well as Doug Scott, Travis
Burkett, Mike Cantrell and
Peter Regan, who are being
investigated for allegedly ne-
glecting their duty as board
memb er s to over see the
school’s operations.
The search warrant was first
reported by the Tulsa World.
The OSBI on Wednesday
seized a laptop and bank
statements from OKC Storm
Athletics, a Christian sports
vendor for home-school stu-
dents, according to its website.
Epic pays vendors for student
activities through what Epic
calls its “Learning Fund.”
The affidavit is the latest in
an ongoing investigation into
alleged financial wrongdoing
at the state’s largest virtual
charter school.
Epic has denied any wrong-
doing, and on Wednesday af-
ternoon issued a statement
saying, “Epic and its founders
will continue to cooperate
with investigators, who have
now been probing the school
for more than six years. It is
important to note that no
charges have ever been filed.
We are confident that the end
result of this investigation will
be as it has always been – no
finding of wrongdoing.”
Epic is the only virtual
school in Oklahoma that uses
a “learning fund’ – essentially
a portion of each student’s
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
A SIGN is seen outside of 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City, where Epic Charter Schools
leases 40,000 square feet for administrative use.
state funding ($800 to $1,000)
that is set aside to be used on
curriculum, a laptop rental, art
supplies, workbooks, and oth-
er items of the family’s choos-
ing. Families also use the
funds on a variety of extracur-
ricular activities, like club
sports, martial arts, dancing or
summer camps.
Parents don’t actually re-
ceive the money directly but
instead request a purchase
from Epic, which then pays
the vendors directly. The
school now has more than
1,200 vendors.
The learning fund is a big
recruitment tool to attract
families, and families who re-
fer new students are rewarded
with an additional deposit into
their student’s fund.
According to the affidavit,
Epic in 2012 was advised by
an attorney for its sponsoring
school district at the time,
Graham-Dustin Public
Schools, that using the learn-
ing fund for extracurricular
activities when the students
received no elective credit
would violate state law.
David Chaney, a business-
man who co-founded the
school, then opened a check-
ing account for the learning
fund and transferred state
funds to it, which Brock used
to pay for students’ extracur-
ricular activities, the affidavit
states. Those purchases did
not appear on Epic’s general
fund payment register and
were reported to the state as
“instructional services.”
Rebecca Wilkinson, execu-
tive director of the Statewide
Virtual Charter School Board,
told the OSBI agent instruc-
tional expenditures “must be a
course supported by a teacher
of record, a recorded grade
and included on the tran-
script,” the affidavit states. In
many cases, these weren’t. The
agent cites a statute he says is
evidence the school commit-
ted fraud.
The agent in the affidavit
accuses Chaney and Brock of
concealing fraudulent expen-
ditures “by disguising the pay-
ments as instructional ser-
vices” and falsifying corporate
records.
The OSBI agent reported at
least two instances when Epic
used vendors who were con-
victed felons.
The OSBI is also investigat-
ing whether Burkett, Cantrell,
Regan and Scott neglected
their duties as board members
in violation of the law. Cantrell,
head of an oil and gas compa-
ny in Ada, is a current board
member and Scott, a Tulsa
attorney, is chairman. Burkett
and Regan are no longer on
the board.
This search warrant is the
WHITNEY BRYEN | Oklahoma Watch
second in as many months
filed by the OSBI. In July, the
agents seized an Epic teacher’s
computer and cell phone in
search of evidence related to
alleged embezzlement of state
funds and obtaining money
under false pretenses, includ-
ing through the use of “ghost
students” who didn’t actually
receive instruction through
the school.
The school’s co-founders,
Chaney and Ben Harris, split
profits of $10 million between
2013 and 2018, that affidavit
states.
The OSBI’s investigation
into Epic has been ongoing
since 2013. When it’s com-
plete, the agency is expected
to present its findings to the
Oklahoma County district at-
torney for possible filing of
criminal charges.
In addition, the school is
undergoing an investigative
audit by the State Auditor &
Inspector, and at least two
federal probes – by the Feder-
al Bureau of Investigation and
the U.S. Department of Educa-
tion.
The school is also facing a
potential lawsuit by several
former teachers, who say they
were pressured into withdraw-
ing and re-enrolling students
to manipulate enrollment to
improve the school’s report
card grade.
• Oklahoma Watch is a
nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3)
corporation whose mission is to
produce in-depth and investigative
journalism on public-policy and
quality-of-life issues facing the state.
 Clip
Aug 2019 Page resized
23 A001 98%

The Norman Transcript

State investigation of Epic

expands to CFO, board
By Jennifer Palmer Investigation are Josh Brock, the school’s
Oklahoma Watch agent alleges CFO, who made the pur-
Epic has been chases, as well as Doug Scott
A state investigation into using state- Travis Burkett, Mike Cantrel
Epic Charter Schools has appropriated and Peter Regan, who are
expanded to include the funds to pay being investigated for alleg-
school’s chief financial officer for students’ edly neglecting their duty as
and four current or former extracur- board members to oversee
board members, according ricular expenses through the school’s operations.
to a search warrant filed in independent vendors but The search warrant was
Oklahoma County Wednes- reported those expenditures first reported by The Tulsa
day. to the state as “instructional World.
In the affidavit for the services,” which the OSBI The OSBI on Wednesday
search warrant, an Okla- agent alleges is fraud.
homa State Bureau of Named in the affidavit See EPIC Page A7

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 The Norman Transcript
Epic:
From Page A1
seized a laptop and bank
statements from OKC Storm
Athletics, a Christian sports
Aug vendor for home-school
23 students, according to its
website. Epic pays vendors
for student activities through
2019 what Epic calls its “Learning
Fund.”
Page The affidavit is the latest in
an ongoing investigation into
A007 financial wrongdoing at the
Clip state’s largest virtual charter
resized school.
48% Epic has denied any
wrongdoing, and on
From Wednesday afternoon
A001 issued a statement saying,
“Epic and its founders will
continue to cooperate with
investigators, who have now
been probing the school for
more than six years. It is
important to note that no
charges have ever been filed.
We are confident that the
end result of this investiga-
tion will be as it has always
been — no finding of wrong-
doing.”
Epic is the only virtual
school in Oklahoma that
uses a “learning fund” — es-
sentially a portion of each
student’s state funding ($800
to $1,000) that is set aside
to be used on curriculum, a
laptop rental, art supplies,
workbooks, and other items
of the family’s choosing.
Families also use the funds
on a variety of extracur-
ricular activities, like club
sports, martial arts, dancing
or summer camps.
Parents don’t actually re-
ceive the money directly but
instead request a purchase
from Epic, which then pays
the vendors directly. The
school now has more than
1,200 vendors.
The learning fund is a big
recruitment tool to at-
tract families, and families
who refer new students are
rewarded with an additional
deposit into their student’s
fund.
According to the affidavit,
Epic in 2012 was advised by
an attorney for its sponsor-
ing school district at the
time, Graham-Dustin Public
Schools, that using the learn-
ing fund for extracurricular
activities when the students
received no elective credit
would violate state law.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
David Chaney, a business- Oklahoma County district they were pressured into
man who co-founded the
school, then opened a check-
attorney for possible filing of
criminal charges.
withdrawing and re-enroll-
ing students to manipulate
ing account for the learning In addition, the school enrollment to improve the
fund and transferred state is undergoing an investi- school’s report card grade.
funds to it, which Brock gative audit by the state Oklahoma Watch is a non-
used to pay for students’ auditor and inspector, and at profit, nonpartisan media
extracurricular activities, least two federal probes — organization that produces
the affidavit states. Those by the Federal Bureau of in-depth and investigative
purchases did not appear on Investigation and the U.S. content on a range of public-
Epic’s general fund payment Department of Education. policy issues facing the state.
register and were reported The school is also facing a For more Oklahoma Watch
to the state as “instructional potential lawsuit by several content, go to oklaho-
services.” former teachers, who say mawatch.org.
Rebecca Wilkinson,
executive director of the
Statewide Virtual Charter
School Board, told the OSBI
agent instructional expen-
ditures “must be a course
supported by a teacher of
record, a recorded grade and
included on the transcript,”
the affidavit states. In many
cases, these weren’t. The
agent cites a statute he says
is evidence the school com-
mitted fraud.
The agent in the affidavit
accuses Chaney and Brock
of concealing fraudulent
expenditures “by disguising
the payments as instruc-
tional services” and falsifying
corporate records.
The OSBI agent reported
at least two instances when
Epic used vendors who were
convicted felons.
The OSBI is also inves-
tigating whether Burkett,
Cantrell, Regan and Scott
neglected their duties as
board members in violation
of the law. Cantrell, head
of an oil and gas company
in Ada, is a current board
member and Scott, a Tulsa
attorney, is chairman. Bur-
kett and Regan are no longer
on the board.
This search warrant is the
second in as many months
filed by the OSBI. In July, the
agents seized an Epic teach-
er’s computer and cell phone
in search of evidence related
to alleged embezzlement of
state funds and obtaining
money under false pretenses,
including through the use of
“ghost students” who didn’t
actually receive instruction
through the school.
The school’s co-founders,
Chaney and Ben Harris,
split profits of $10 million
between 2013 and 2018, that
affidavit states.
The OSBI’s investigation
into Epic has been ongoing
since 2013. When it’s com-
plete, the agency is expected
to present its findings to the
 The Shawnee News-Star

LOCAL N

STATE NEWS BRIEFS

the bedrooms, bathrooms and closets of
Man at center of ‘Innocent four Oklahoma homes where he did elec-

Aug
Man’ documentary trical work. Police said they found child
SRUQRJUDSK\ RQ $OGHQ¶V ¿YH FRPSXWHUV
23 may soon be free and two phones.
Alden was also accused of secretly tak-
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — A federal
ing photos of girls in gyms, schools mall
2019 judge has placed the man at the center of
changing rooms and stores, the Oklaho-
a documentary series “The Innocent Man”
man reported.
Page on the path to potential freedom.
The investigation began in October
U.S. District Judge James Payne of
A003 2018, said Assistant District Attorney
Muskogee, Oklahoma, has ruled there
Merydith Easter. At that time, there were
Clip was reasonable doubt that Karl Fonte-
resized two cameras still hidden in vents.
not (FAHN’-teh-noh) should have been
58% During the two-hour sentencing hear-
convicted in 1988 in the kidnapping and
ing, one parent said it took several days
killing of Ada convenience store clerk
to make sense of what happened to their
Denice Haraway in 1984.
daughters.
Payne gave the state 120 days to grant
“The day we found out what he did to
Fontenot a new trial or release him per-
our children, I could not breathe,” the par-
manently.
ent said. “... Our daughters were confused,
Fontenot’s case was the focus of the
WKH\ZHUHDIUDLGWKH\ZHUHDVKDPHG:H
John Grisham book “The Innocent Man”
did not know how to protect them.”
DQGDODWHU1HWÀL[GRFXPHQWDU\VHULHVE\
Alden’s attorney, Chris Sloan, said that
the same name.
although what his client did was wrong,
,Q 3D\QH¶V RSLQLRQ ¿OHG :HGQHVGD\
his actions didn’t justify spending the rest
he found that Fontenot’s mental illnesses
of his life in prison because he didn’t touch
raised serious questions about the validity
any children. Sloan requested a 10-year
of his uncorroborated confession. Fonte-
prison sentence and probation.
not’s account of what happened came from
Alden kept his head bowed for most of
a dream he says he had about the killing.
the hearing and apologized when he had
An Oklahoma attorney general spokes-
the chance.
man says the judge’s order is still being
reviewed.
Investigators raid
Oklahoma man gets online Oklahoma charter
life in prison for school’s vendor
child pornography OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State inves-
tigators have raided a vendor for an online
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A judge sen-
Oklahoma charter school whose enroll-
tenced an Oklahoma man to life in prison
ment, funding and some of its leaders are
plus nearly 150 years more for hiding
at the center of an investigation.
cameras in homes to capture images of
Agents from the Oklahoma State Bureau
girls, saying she would have ordered his
of Investigation searched the home of a
castration if the law allowed.
PDQZKRUXQVDQRQSUR¿WWKDWZRUNVZLWK
Ryan Aaron Alden pleaded guilty in
Epic Charter Schools to provide coaching
June to 28 felonies, including creating
services for sports. The search warrant
child pornography, aggravated possession
DI¿GDYLW ¿OHG :HGQHVGD\ UDLVHV QHZ DO-
of obscene material of minors and using
legations of embezzlement, forgery and
video equipment in a clandestine manner.
other violations against Epic co-founder
³:H¶UHKHUHEHFDXVHRIWKHFKRLFHVWKDW
and former superintendent David Chaney,
you and you alone made,” Oklahoma
FKLHI¿QDQFLDORI¿FHU-RVK%URFNDQGWZR
County District Judge Amy Palumbo told
present and two former board members.
the 39-year-old Alden during sentencing
1R FKDUJHV KDYH EHHQ ¿OHG DQG (SLF
:HGQHVGD\ ³7KH GHYDVWDWLRQ WKDW \RX
and its leadership have denied any wrong-
caused these families may never be known.
doing. Epic attorney Chuck Richardson
“If the law allowed me to have you cas-
VDLGWKHVFKRRODQGLWVRI¿FLDOVZLOOFRQWLQ-
trated, I would. Because I think that that
ue to cooperate with investigators.
would begin to help solve your problem,”
The State Bureau of Investigation de-
she said.
clined comment.
Prosecutors said Alden hid cameras in

orig.pdf 1 Property 23-Aug-19

of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association. 17:20:56
 Clip
Aug 2019 Page resized
23 A001 40%

Stillwater NewsPress

Pioneering among scouts

Moody starts BSA Troop 843 after
landmark change nationwide
By Jordan Bishop
jbishop@stwnewspress.com
What they have to say:
Brenda Moody is a pioneer.
As someone who has been
involved with scouting for 22
years, with her three sons all
involved from Cub Scouts on,
it wasn’t anything new to her.
However, since Feb. 1, she
has been forging new territory
in the historic organization.
On that date, the Boy
Scouts of America announced
girls could join. Since then,
the group formally known as
the Boy Scouts – ages 11-18 –
is now Scouts BSA.
Moody has been working
with the organization for
years watching her two eldest, has been busy trying to keep
Brian Jr. and Brandon earn her troop going and has been
the honor of Eagle Scout, successful so far. She heard
currently trying to help her through the grapevine that
youngest son Brayson work the Veterans of Foreign Wars
toward that goal. She was post in Stillwater was looking
content with it and never to have a troop so Moody, who
thought about having a troop along with her husband is a
of her own until her daughter, military veteran, was able to SCOUTS BSA TROOP 843 FACEBOOK
Bre’Anna, told her she wanted charter with VFW Post 2027 The Scouts BSA Troop 843 group of Stillwater, one of three all-girls troops in the area with one
to join. to create Troop 843. in Ponca City and the other in Enid set up camp at Lake Carl Blackwell last weekend. Brenda
Bre’Anna, who is 12, fit the “We joined it so my husband Moody, the scoutmaster, started the troop last spring after it was announced nationwide on
age requirement, but Moody can become the charter orga- Feb. 1 that girls could join.
needed five to charter a troop. nization rep and I can become
Moody started fishing around the scoutmaster,” Moody said. Carl Blackwell, which Moody
the area and with Bre’Anna’s “Now I have a key to open up said was a success. In a more
help, she was able to get six and close up for meetings. The primitive environment than
girls from Perkins, Stillwa- commander out there is actu- she had imagined, the girls
ter, Carney and Yale, which ally a star scout, he has previ- in the troop had everything
with Bre’Anna made seven – ous scout experience.” planned out and even started
enough for a charter. Since the beginning of May, working on building camp
“I am not a pro at it,” Moody Troop 843 has hosted meet- gadgets, setting up fire pits
said. “I have been in scouts in ings every Monday at the and cooking.
one capacity or another for 22 VFW post and as scoutmaster, “They look at me funny
years, but I am no expert at it Moody has been having her and I tell them, ‘Hey, you
and they are changing things girls do as many scouting ac- don’t know what is coming
every day.” tivities as they can.
Moody, a teacher at Epic Last weekend, they went
Charter Schools in the day, on a camping trip to lake See Scouts, Page A8

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Stillwater NewsPress

Aug
23

2019
being equal, they want

Page Scouts the same opportunities,”

Moody said. “They just
want to have the same
A008 Continued from Page A1 opportunities to do the
same things and get the
Clip tomorrow. You don’t recognition. That is the
resized know what is going to main thing. There have
happen. You don’t know been so many sisters who
33% what we are going to have done the same thing
run into when we go
and haven’t gotten rec-
From camping,’” Moody said.
ognition over the years.
“…. They planned it out
A001 and did the shopping I would put any of those
and everything. There is girls against any of those
our campfire. We were boys and they would
really prepared. They work circles around
worked as a group and them. Now the girls from
as a team.” Feb. 1 on get that oppor-
Getting to participate tunity.”
in those events is some- Troop 843 has girls
thing that girls have who are volunteering for
been doing for years but most everything there
weren’t able to get credit is and it brings a tear to
for it. Before February, Moody’s eye that they are
if girls were wanting to being so involved. And
get credit for those ac- now, she has the chance
tivities, it could only be to have all four of her
in a Venturing program, kids be Eagle Scouts as
where you had to be 14 Bre’Anna now has that
to join. opportunity.
A few years ago, girls For Moody, scouts
were allowed to join the
wasn’t anything she was
Cub Scouts – ages 5-10
SCOUTS BSA TROOP 843 FACEBOOK interested in growing
– but before then and
Feb.1 of this year, Ven- The Scouts BSA Troop 843 group of Stillwater, one of three all-girls troops in the area with one in Ponca up, but she was already
turing was the only time City and the other in Enid, carve soap at Lake Carl Blackwell last weekend. Brenda Moody, the scoutmas- independent and learned
girls could actually be ter, started the troop last spring after it was announced nationwide on Feb. 1 that girls could join. life skills from her par-
part of it. ents and grandparents.
Moody said it is won- rules there should be for has been difficult to start area since in the Cimar- may checks and balances For kids now, that might
derful that the BSA is girls, but she thinks it their own troop instead ron Council, there are now. A lot of the nega- not be an option, so she
starting to catch up with should be just like Ven- of piggybacking off one of only three: one in Ponca tives are things that hap- is happy that girls have
the rest of the world. turing. That’s worked the other troops in town, City, a new one in Enid pened so many years ago. a place where they can
At the World Jamboree for decades, so why she is glad she did it. and 843. Moody said that I have seen the changes learn those things.
held a few weeks ago in have different rules for And it doesn’t mean 843 can’t happen without these last 20 years. You “It takes a village to
West Virginia, 40 per- Scouts, she said. isn’t going to assist the parents’ involvement, have to be a proactive raise a child and with
cent of the Scouts there “I am not an expert other troops or vice versa. though. parent. The nickname scouting, my village just
were girls from other on why they finally al- Right now, other troops “I would like the troop used to be Babysitters of exploded with millions of
countries lowed girls, but society is are helping 843 get on to explode, but I can’t do America, it can’t be that leaders around,” Moody
“With Scouts BSA al- changing,” Moody said. its feet, whether it is that without leadership. anymore.” said. “… My daughter
lowing girls to get into “You have a lot of sin- other scoutmasters giving I cannot to that with- Even with the strug- has the world at her feet
scouts now, it opens the gle family households, Moody a tip on girls who out help,” Moody said. gles, Moody is so glad
right now and she can do
door for girls at a young- whether it is mom rais- are interested or even “I have girls down in Bre’Anna helped get her
anything that she pos-
er age to be exposed to ing the kids, dad raising loaning some camping Carney who are driving out of her comfort zone
the kids or grandparents gear. all the way here to have and become a scoutmas- sibly wants to because
the leadership qualities
raising the kids. Every- It has been hard, espe- scouts. I would like to get ter. It might be tough scouting is going to open
and the programs that
scouts allow,” Moody one is having to have cially with school starting enough to have one there sledding right now, but those doors for her.”
said. “With Scouts open- two incomes. Parents back up, for her to keep and one here because she knows the girls in If one is interested
ing up all the way to five aren’t able to have mom meetings organized since that is doable. Even my her troop are getting about Troop 843, Moody
years old for Cub Scouts, run them this way and it is just her, her hus- girl in Yale, something great experience right can be reached at 405-
that hits a large major- dad run them the other band and another group out there. The adult now and with the Cub 820-9357 or by email
ity and more scouts for way. Usually it is one of parents involved as population is not see- Scout program having at scouts.bsa.troop843@
the program.” parent and to be able to adults. Her goal is to dou- ing scouting as a viable girls, maybe down the gmail.com. The Troop
Moody said there has drop them off the same ble from 7 to 14 next year thing. You have the bad line it will get to be seam- meets at 6:30 p.m. Mon-
been some sluggishness night is a lot easier.” and in five years, maybe press and it can’t be over- less like with the boys. days at VFW Ollie. O
from above on what Moody said while it have another troop in the looked, but there are so “It is not so much about Dykes Post 2027.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Woodward News
WARD NEWS
Investigation of Epic Charter Schools expands
Aug By Jennifer Palmer
23 Oklahoma Watch
T A state investigation
2019 into Epic Charter
Schools has expanded to
include the school’s
Page chief financial officer
A002 and four current or for-
mer board members,
Clip according to a search
resized warrant filed in
41% Oklahoma County
Wednesday.
Named in the affidavit
are Josh Brock, the
school’s CFO, who
made the purchases, as
well as Doug Scott,
Travis Burkett, Mike
Cantrell and Peter
Regan, who are being
investigated for alleged-
ly neglecting their duty
as board members to
oversee the school’s
operations.
The search warrant
was first reported by the
Tulsa World.
The OSBI on
W Wednesday seized a lap-
top and bank statements
from OKC Storm
Athletics, a Christian
S
sports vendor for home-
school students, accord-
ing to its website. Epic
T pays vendors for student
activities through what
Epic calls its “Learning
Fund.”
The affidavit is the
latest in an ongoing
investigation into finan-
cial wrongdoing at the
state’s largest virtual
charter school.
Epic has denied any
wrongdoing, and on
Wednesday afternoon
issued a statement say-
ing, “Epic and its
founders will continue to
cooperate with investiga-
tors, who have now been
probing the school for
more than six years. It is
important to note that no
charges have ever been
filed.We are confident
that the end result of this
investigation will be as it
has always been – no
Forum
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
finding of wrongdoing.”
Epic is the only virtu-
al school in Oklahoma
that uses a “learning
fund’ – essentially a por-
tion of each student’s
state funding ($800 to
$1,000) that is set aside
to be used on curricu-
lum, a laptop rental, art
supplies, workbooks,
and other items of the
family’s choosing.
Families also use the
funds on a variety of
extracurricular activities,
like club sports, martial
arts, dancing or summer
camps.
Parents don’t actually
receive the money
directly but instead
request a purchase from
Epic, which then pays
the vendors directly. The
school now has more
than 1,200 vendors.
The learning fund is a
big recruitment tool to
attract families, and fam-
ilies who refer new stu-
dents are rewarded with
an additional deposit
into their student’s fund.
According to the affi-
davit, Epic in 2012 was
advised by an attorney
for its sponsoring school
district at the time,
Graham-Dustin Public
Schools, that using the
learning fund for
extracurricular activities
when the students
received no elective
credit would violate state
law.
David Chaney, a busi-
nessman who co-found-
ed the school, then
Friday, August 23, 2019
duties as board members
in violation of the law.
Cantrell, head of an oil
and gas company in
Ada, is a current board
member and Scott, a
Tulsa attorney, is chair-
man. Burkett and Regan
are no longer on the
board.
This search warrant is
the second in as many
months filed by the
OSBI. In July, the
opened a checking the transcript,” the affi- agents seized an Epic
account for the learning davit states. In many teacher’s computer and
fund and transferred cases, these weren’t. The cell phone in search of
state funds to it, which agent cites a statute he evidence related to
Brock used to pay for says is evidence the alleged embezzlement of
students’ extracurricular school committed fraud. state funds and obtain-
activities, the affidavit The agent in the affi- ing money under false
states. Those purchases davit accuses Chaney pretenses, including
did not appear on Epic’s and Brock of concealing through the use of
general fund payment fraudulent expenditures “ghost students” who
register and were report- “by disguising the pay- didn’t actually receive
ed to the state as ments as instructional instruction through the
“instructional services.” services” and falsifying school.
The school’s co-
founders, Chaney and
Ben Harris, split profits
of $10 million between
2013 and 2018, that affi-
davit states.
The OSBI’s investi-
gation into Epic has
been ongoing since
2013. When it’s com-
plete, the agency is
expected to present its
findings to the
Oklahoma County dis-
trict attorney for possi-
ble filing of criminal
charges.
In addition, the
school is undergoing an
investigative audit by
the State Auditor &
Inspector, and at least
two federal probes – by
the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the
U.S. Department of
Education.
Rebecca Wilkinson, corporate records. The school is also
executive director of the The OSBI agent facing a potential law-
Statewide Virtual reported at least two suit by several former
Charter School Board, instances when Epic teachers, who say they
told the OSBI agent used vendors who were were pressured into
instructional expendi- convicted felons. withdrawing and re-
tures “must be a course The OSBI is also enrolling students to
supported by a teacher investigating whether manipulate enrollment
of record, a recorded Burkett, Cantrell, Regan to improve the school’s
grade and included on and Scott neglected their report card grade.