Oklahoman
A state audit and intervention began Friday at Western Heights Public Schools, as state officials aim for a district turnaround.
Several state officials arrived at the southwest Oklahoma City district to meet with school leaders and staff.
The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector s Office initiated its investigation of district finances with a visit from State Auditor Cindy Byrd and Brenda Holt, director of Byrd s forensic audit division.
Byrd said she s confident her office will conduct a thorough audit, though 15 trash bags of shredded financial records were found in a district dumpster earlier in the week. We are always concerned whenever we see a large amount of records shredded, especially in the midst of asking for a special investigative audit, Byrd said. But, we also should remember there are real reasons to shred documents. So, at this time until there is a document I’m asking for that they cannot produce, I’m not going to be extremely conc
By: Augusta McDonnell
OKLAHOMA CITY -
The state Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to begin a process of heavy involvement at Western Heights.
This comes after a contentious probationary process until this point.
“It feels like there’s been some resolution. there has been a need for strong leadership and the state is actually going to intervene now, to be able to provide that,” said Joy Hofmeister, Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Western Heights accreditation came into question in April after complaints of mismanagement by the district’s school board and superintendent, Mannix Barnes.
But state administrators said the school didn’t do much to save their district when they had the chance.
State Board Of Education Moves To Adopt Intervention Plan Concerning Western Heights Public Schools news9.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news9.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
More than 3,000 students attend Western Heights Public Schools.
They could all be sent elsewhere if the school board has failed to satisfy the state board s requirements.
News 9 reached out to the school board and district administration repeatedly, but no one will confirm what efforts are being made to preserve Western Heights Public Schools in accordance with state requests.
Western Heights teachers literally danced to keep their students engaged while learning from home all last year.
There were only 10 days of in-person learning for students, one of the reasons why the district was put on probation.
The state Board of Education warned the district in June that intervention was coming if their concerns went unaddressed.
Western Heights School Board Holds First Meeting After Action From State Board Of Education news9.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news9.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.