In the wake of former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters' resignation, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has set in motion an investigative audit of the State Department of Education, per an announcement on the official website of the Oklahoma Attorney General's office. Drummond's move follows on the heels of allegations and concerns about fiscal mismanagement during Walters' tenure that have been voiced by both current and former employees of the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).
"You are well aware that the former Superintendent has a documented history of mismanaging tax dollars, as it was your office that exposed Mr. Walters for granting ‘blanket approval’ for families to purchase non-educational items..." Drummond's letter to State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd revealed, as the audit is expected to span from January 9, 2023, through Tuesday. The audit ordered by Drummond not only underscores the continuance of such claims but also appears to cast a wide net in the search for possible financial transgressions during the previous leadership's stint.
The Attorney General holds the jurisdiction to request this kind of scrutiny under statutory authority, and Drummond has indicated that he anticipates a swift and comprehensive process, stating, "Given the former Superintendent's well-established history of mishandling tax dollars, combined with new and ongoing allegations of misspending, I am now ordering an investigative audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education," as found in the correspondence shared via the Attorney General's newsroom.
While the full scope of the alleged financial mismanagement has yet to be unveiled, Drummond's decisive action sends a message that potential misappropriation of taxpayer funds is a serious issue that requires prompt attention the gravity of the situation cannot be overstated, when public trust in the state’s educational leaders is at stake.
