District may take over Seeworth Academy
Oklahoma City Public Schools i s expected t o assume the day- to- day o p e r a t i o n s o f J u s t i c e Alma Wilson Seeworth Academy, a charter school for at-risk students, after findings of “gross neglect and noncompliance” by the state Department of Education.
Brad Clark, the department's general counsel, i n a l etter addressed to Janet Grigg, Seeworth's executive di r ector and superintendent, said there is evidence the school's administration “has failed to properly account for t a x pa y e r f u nds , f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y ma i n t a i n accounting records related thereto, as well as failed to provide services to students with disabilities.”
The agency conducted monitoring and review activities associated with the school's federal program f unds on or near March 19 and found the school to be “seriously deficient in the areas of transparency, accountability, and policies and procedures as they relate to the school's federal funds.”
“Based on the OSDE's Building principal Tarrence Rodgers and Superintendent Janet Grigg talk at the front desk of the Justice Alma Wilson SeeWorth Academy at 12600 N Kelley Ave. in Oklahoma City, in 2016. [NATE BILLINGS/ THE OKLAHOMAN]
review of these matters, multiple artifacts exist to demonstrate gross neglect and noncompliance with both state and federal laws and regulations,” the letter stated.
Clark said the findings “reflect the serious nature of the infractions, which may place the continued
existence of the School as it exists today at risk.”
Clark r equested t hat Grigg provide or otherwise make available school f i nancial r ecords “t hat are reportedly currently being stored for possible tampering or destruction at a private residence in Talihina, Oklahoma.”
S e e wort h ' s b o a r d o f directors is expected to meet in the coming week t o discuss t he f i ndings and consider a resolution that could result i n the school forfeiting its chart er s t at us, cl osi ng and reopening as a noncharter operated by Oklahoma City Public Schools, or a combination of scenarios.
“Since t hese matters were br ought t o l i ght, t h e s t a t e De p a r t men t of Education has been working with t he governing body of Seeworth Academy and Oklahoma City Public Schools t o swiftly and meaningfully resolve these issues in the best interests of students,” Clark said in a statement Friday.
Charter schools receive g o v e r n m e n t f u n d i n g but operate with s ome independence of the established state school district in which they are located.
T h a t , i t a p p e a r s , i s about t o change i n t he case of Seeworth, which serves between 450 and 500 students in grades 3 to 12, most of whom are not equipped to succeed socially, emotionally or academically when they arrive by way of referral from Oklahoma City Public Schools.
“As always, our district is committed to providing an outstanding educational environment for all OKCPS students, includi ng t hose a t See worth Academy,” spokeswoman Beth Harrison said i n a statement. “We look forward to working with our partners to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”
It was unclear whether Grigg, the school's longtime executive director and superintendent, had been suspended over the agency's findings. Grigg could not be reached for comment Friday.
An agency r evi ew of the school's special education program revealed “widespread violations of the (Individuals With Disabilities Act) and its a c c o mpanyi n g f e d e r a l regulations,” according to a compliance report obtained by The Oklahoman.
According to the report, many of the Individualized E d u c a t i o n a l P r o g r a ms (IEP) reviewed “contain missing components, do not appear to be individualized, and are not updated annually.”
Additionally, the report shows the school's special education teacher/director was assigned a student caseload of nearly f i ve times the allowable limits in law, and approximately 64% of students on an IEP do not have complete secondary transition plans a s r e qui r e d by f e der a l law. Additionally, at least 40 students do not have accommodations l i sted in the IEP for state or district-wide assessments.