The Blanchard News

Jun
06

2019

Page
A009
Clip From the Desk of Dr. Jim Beckham
resized Superintendent of Blanchard Public Schools
42%
Dear Assistant Superintendent Hickman:
Shelly Hickman, M.Ed., Assistant Superintendent for EPIC
Charter Schools - felt compelled to criticize my objections to EPIC
Charter Schools’ blatant recruiting of local students and teachers.
Hickman is listed as EPIC’s “Managing Director of External Affairs”
and serves as the chief media spokesperson. She is responsible for
strategic communications (for recruiting purposes), marketing (for
recruiting purposes), and community relations (for recruiting
purposes), and yes - recruiting teachers and students. In her “Letter”
to local newspapers, Assistant Superintendent Hickman begins “..
Jim Beckham blatantly accused Epic Charter Schools of trying to
recruit students..”, and “We were shocked..”, thereby.. strategically
communicating that EPIC does not recruit students, and was
surprised that anyone could think so.
Since Ms. Hickman seems to be a regular reader of local
newspapers and my public school support blog, I have a few
questions. These questions were first posed to Shelly in December
of 2018, and she promised a response was forthcoming, but only
crickets have been heard since. Since I don’t have a bachelor’s
degree in mass communications or a master’s degree in education,
as does Shelly Hickman (I have an H.D., Hayseed Doctorate), please
strategically communicate your answers at my level, as I’m a farmer/
rancher:
1) The OSBI is currently investigating you (EPIC) for enrolling
students already attending private schools across Oklahoma. You
are reportedly accepting state aid for students not attending EPIC,
which may constitute “defrauding” the state of tax dollars. Please
explain?
2) Article 10, section 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution states “..the
credit of the State shall not be given, pledged, or loaned to any
individual... nor shall the State .. make donation by gift..”. In
addition, State Law 70-16-121 states “..all textbooks shall be owned
by such (school) districts..” How has EPIC circumvented the
Oklahoma Constitution and State Law in gifting more than 8,000
laptop computers and more than $3,000,000 to individuals?
3) You (EPIC) have reported class sizes of 25-30 students, but
five (5) EPIC high school teachers are reported as having over 2,000
students each in U.S. History (2,239 students), Chemistry I and
Biology I (2039 students), Geometry and Algebra II (2,098 students),
English I,II,III, and IV (2,746 students), and Algebra I (2,948
students). Please explain?
4) State Law prohibits a public school of EPIC proportions to
exceed 5% in administrative costs. According to 2017 Oklahoma
Cost Accounting System reports, EPIC has 3.28% in administrative
costs; however, the August 2017 auditor’s report reflects that EPIC
expended an additional 10% for a total 13.28% in administrative
costs. How do you reconcile, Shelly?
5) The 2017 graduation rate report from the Oklahoma State
Department of Education lists EPIC with a 35.7% student graduation
rate, while Oklahoma traditional public schools average 86%. Is
this rate part of the “world-class learning opportunities” that you
market?
I have several more questions to ask, but I now have to go feed
the cows, literally. I’m counting on you to strategically communicate
and market some answers to the five questions above, however,
and I’ll have a few more next week. I’m betting we’ll only hear
crickets, once again...

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