School leaders blast governor’s decision on Oklahoma State Department of Education

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has submitted a request to the Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector’s Office for an audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Governor Stitt’s decision comes after evidence was discovered that shows funds were misappropriated at Epic Charter Schools.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister released a statement after hearing the news.

“The Governor’s call for an audit is yet another attack on Oklahoma’s public education system. As the Governor should already know, the State Department of Education has undergone more than 20 financial, compliance and programmatic review audits by the state auditor’s office in the last 6-1/2 years. Additionally, the Governor’s hand-picked Secretary of Education approves every agency expenditure over $25,000 on a weekly basis. Every single spending request has been personally approved by Secretary Ryan Walters. At a time during which there are serious audits we have requested which potentially involve criminal activity, and while 541 school districts are struggling to find normalcy during a pandemic, the Governor’s attack on public education couldn’t be worse timing for students, families, teachers and taxpayers.”

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