In a significant restructuring move, Epic Charter Schools has announced the elimination of 357 jobs ahead of the 2025-26 academic year. The cuts include 83 teachers, representing 5.92% of their teaching staff, and 274 administrative workers or 37.43% of their administrative staff, according to a KOCO report. Superintendent Bart Banfield expressed gratitude for the affected employees' contributions, stating, "This transition is about preserving and strengthening our ability to serve students for years to come," in a statement obtained by KOCO.
As part of the reorganization, the district is phasing out the Learning Center model that had provided full-day, in-person instruction. With the closures of two learning centers in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa, the school is shifting focus to its one-on-one and Comet Academy models. These changes also mean the end of breakfast, and lunch services previously provided, per a news release shared by The Oklahoman.
Dulce Montoya, a parent whose children have attended Epic Charter Schools since 2020, expressed concerns about the lack of transparency from the school's administration. "Now we're just kind of like in the air, like we don't know what's going to happen," Montoya told News 9. Montoya and other parents now find themselves uncertain about the future of their children's education and are sympathetic towards the educators now forced to seek employment during their summer respite.
The decision to streamline the school's operations responds to a necessity to reconfigure resources to align with their educational goals. Rob Crissinger, a spokesperson for Epic Charter Schools, informed employees about the job cuts on June 3, highlighting that the move was essential to aligning their resources with their educational priorities, according to The Oklahoman. Despite the upheaval for staff and families connected to Epic Charter Schools, the institution remains committed to transparency and compassion during the transition. Enrollment for the next school year continues, with Epic Charter Schools serving as Oklahoma's largest public virtual charter school for approximately 30,000 students.
