EPIC Charter Schools board authorizes bank financing, extends superintendent contract and approves Pathways enrollments

EPIC Charter Schools' board voted on several finance and personnel measures during its May 15 meeting, approving authorization for the superintendent, in consultation with district general counsel, to execute agreements to obtain bank financing; extending the superintendent's contract by one year; appointing an interim district treasurer; approving amended 2024-25 budget authority; and approving Pathways adult high school completion applications for both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The board said the financing authority is intended to cover short-term cash-flow needs caused in part by a surge in enrollment after the state's 45th-day funding cutoff for new students. "We do have a cash flow issue," a board speaker said. Finance staff said the district expects state funding for late-enrolling students to arrive beginning in August and again in January through midterm adjustments, and that the loan is meant to bridge June and July expenditures.

Votes at a glance: the motions to authorize financing, to add one year to the superintendent's contract, to appoint Michael Florrie as district treasurer (pending oath), to approve the amended 2024-25 budget and to approve the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Pathways applications all carried with affirmative votes from the board members recorded on the roll call.

On the Pathways adult high school completion program, the board approved applications for the 2024-25 school year and for 2025-26. The board discussed state legislation the superintendent said could expand the program's eligible age range: "Senate bill 774545," as stated in the meeting, would extend the age of students served in virtual public-school programs from 26 to 30 if signed by the governor, the superintendent said. Board members noted that if Oklahoma adopts Medicaid work requirements, the ability to complete high school could be important for adults seeking employment.

Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Justin Hunt presented performance and engagement metrics to the board during a governance- performance framework update. Hunt said the district met its end-of-year goal in English language arts a month early and reported year-over-year gains in formative assessments in both ELA and math. "I am extremely excited about the growth that we've seen this year over time compared to previous years," Hunt said. He also reported average daily engagement of roughly 70–75 percent, with a goal of 80 percent, and described EPIC's individualized attendance patterns as a factor in that measure.

The meeting included a superintendent spotlight and videos highlighting special-education families and teachers. In the superintendent spotlight, families and teachers described EPIC as providing flexible scheduling and early access to IEPs and special-education teachers; one parent said, "We chose to join EPIC because it allowed us to have a very flexible schedule... When I contacted EPIC, they're like, 'No, we'll put them on an IEP. We'll put them with a SPED teacher.'" Board members and administrators also highlighted student journalism awards for the EPIC News Network, kindergarten graduations, Earth Day activities and prom events across the state.

Treasury and budget matters were led by finance staff. The board voted to appoint Michael Florrie as district treasurer until a full-time chief financial officer is hired and approved an amended 2024-25 budget to authorize additional unplanned spending lines identified by the finance department.

The board approved a consent agenda and later voted to enter an executive session consistent with the agenda; minutes state only board members and specified staff attended and that no votes were taken during the executive session. The open-session meeting then was adjourned.

Documentation and timing: the board noted the agenda had been posted in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act before the meeting began.

The board encouraged families seeking specific teachers to enroll for the 2025-26 year early; the superintendent said reenrollment was on track to be the highest in the organization's history and that school starts August 20.