The Ardmoreite

Jul
30
Charter
2020 school
Page
A001
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numbers
spike amid
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pandemic
Michael D. Smith
Daily Ardmoreite

One of Oklahoma’s larg-

est school systems may have
recently become the biggest
by student enrollment. Unlike
most public and private school
districts in the state, Epic Public
Charter Schools do not heavily
rely on traditional campuses
and can enroll students from
every Oklahoma county.
While a pandemic continues
to raise questions about if and
how students can return to
school for a new academic year,
one charter school official says

See CHARTER, A2

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The Ardmoreite
CHARTER
From Page A1
the system that has been
steadily growing its student
body for years is prepared
to handle an enrollment
spike.
“Whatever their reasons
for coming to us are, we’re
ready,” said Assistant
Superintendent Shelly
Hickman. “We serve kids
and families in Oklahoma
City and Tulsa, but we also
serve kids from places like
Guymon and Atoka. We
understand the uncertainty
of the times, and we hope to
be a bridge for the families
who have chosen to start
the school year with us.”
Epic released enrollment
numbers which show a siz-
able increase in the number
of students using the alter-
native school system. Over
40,600 students were
signed up for the 2020-
2021 school year and more
are expected before classes
begin. That is more than
12,500 additional students,
almost 45%, compared
to the previous year and
nearly 19,300 more than
the 2018-2019 school year.
Hickman said about
60% of new enrollments
are due to the pandemic,
while 40 percent of new
enrollments have indi-
cated it was unrelated to
COVID-19.
As of the previous school
year, only the Oklahoma
City Public Schools and
Tulsa Public Schools sys-
tems had more students
enrolled than Epic schools.
Enrollment numbers
released this week put Epic
above the Tulsa school
system’s enrollment from
last year and within 2,000
students from overtak-
ing Oklahoma City Public
Schools.
Publicschoolsacrossthe
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state will collect enrollment
data in October and the
state education department
is expected to release that
information in December.
While not every county
saw more students enrolled
in the charter school this
year, most saw increased
enrollment over last year
and some saw numbers
double. Only six Oklahoma
counties saw Epic enroll-
ment drop, accounting for
fewer than 300 students.
Carter County saw
the number of students
enrolled in Epic for the
upcoming school year
jump by nearly 35% since
the previous school year.
Between the 2018-2019
school year and the 2019-
2020 school year, Carter
County students enrolled
in Epic jumped by 21%.
The recent spike in Epic
enrollments may not be
finished either. Seven more
Carter County students had
enrolled in Epic between
Tuesday’s announcement
and Wednesday’s request
for historical enrollment
data. The charter school
will begin classes on Sept.
8.
Because of the enroll-
ment spike, Epic
announced earlier this
month that faculty hirings
had resumed. The school
system’s superintendent
pointed to the charter
school’s distance learning
model as being uniquely
positioned to address
pandemic anxieties for stu-
dents and teachers.
"We anticipate many of
our families are not going
to elect to meet in person,"
said Superintendent Bart
Banfield in a July 16 state-
ment. "So teachers we hire
for this coming school year
who may not be comfort-
able being in a classroom
this school year could find
a good professional fit for
themselves this year with
EPIC."
 The Elk City News

Weekend Edition

Aug
Parents speak out
12

2020 on the coming

Page
0001
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school year
From By Manda Smith, Contributing writer
0002
Schools across the country are starting fall semesters,
and just like in previous years, parents enter the school
year with a mixture of emotions sending their kids off to
school.
In 2020, however, the dark cloud of COVID-19 hangs
over the head of every parent. With what seems like a
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ery week, parents have had to make a lot of tough deci-
sions to determine the best route to take for their child’s
education and the well-being of their families.
Ashley Kenner of Cheyenne resident has a daughter
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grade at Cheyenne Elementary.
“I’m worried like I am every school year,” she said,
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year. Impetigo made an appearance, too. I have a child
with asthma, so an inhaler and nebulizer are always at
d. the school.”
en She tries not to let these worries spill over onto her
children, however, saying, “I worry that my kids will
8. See School page 2.

orig.pdf 1 12-Aug-20 16:31:56

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The Elk City News

The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, August 12, 2020
their mental and physical time, but she hopes to start the new requirements,” she
n
School well-being. I trust that they
will do all they can to keep
my babies safe.”
dance class in the future.
Kale wants to remind par-
ents to stay strong in their
said. “She would rather do
online school without wor-
rying about being thirsty
Continued from page 1. ment.
She also wants people cleaning practices to help because she forgot her water
pick up on my worries and “My kids will be return-
not to forget how important school children stay safe. bottle and can’t drink from a
feel unsafe, and I can’t just ing back to the classrooms
hygiene is for the safety of “I think people should be school fountain.”
allow that to happen. So I try full-time,” Thompson said.
all of us in these uncertain extra vigilant about cleaning Kate Watts is another mom
to keep calm and inform my “They need that interaction.”
times. the children and their school in Elk City who decided to
children as best I can.” She said they are “beyond
as “By now, even the kids supplies,” he said. “That will keep her daughter home this
Kenner has faith in her ready” for school to start
are aware of the importance cut down on the transmis-
n school system, and wants to again. fall, as her daughter will be
of personal hygiene,” she sion of germs.”
do her part to help. “They have missed all doing a home school pro-
said. “As the parents, we While many kids are head-
“I will do everything in their friends, the classroom gram. She previously attend-
need to make sure we keep ing back to in-person school,
my power to help make experiences, favorite teach- ed Elk City Elementary but
reminding them always to some parents have decided
it work,” she said. “If the ers, and most of all, sports,” ZLOOEHVWDUWLQJÀUVWJUDGHDW
wash their hands and be to keep their children home
school called me right now she said. home this year. Kate is wor-
hyper-vigilant in recogniz- during the pandemic.
asking for a rainbow unicorn She is nervous about how ried about her daughter’s
as ing when it does not happen Sara Crelly of Elk City has
with a glow in the dark horn, consistent school will be this at home so we can correct a daughter who went to Elk health and is choosing to be
n well, I’d suit up and go uni- year. it on the spot. If we do this, City Elementary last year safe and not take any chanc-
corn hunting. I’ve always “I’m worried that they will hand washing will be second but will be a part of Epic this es with this virus.
tried to be supportive as pos- start back, and in a month, nature. It should already be year for third grade. Epic is “We wear masks when-
sible with the school faculty everything will get ripped this way, but with COVID an accredited online charter ever we go into public,” she
and staff.” out from underneath them, around, this is our oppor- school. She wants to provide said. “My daughter has had
a- She also thinks it’s essen- and the schools will shut tunity to grow on hygiene her daughter with as much WKHÁXHYHU\\HDUVLQFHVWDUW-
o- tial not to pass judgment on down again,” she said. awareness.” stability and comfort in her ing school and even had it
other people’s decisions dur- She wants people to cut Kale Jackson of Merritt learning environment as she twice last year. I’m nervous
ing this time. our schools some slack. has a daughter that will be can. about her getting COVID
“I think people need to “Keep in mind that this JRLQJ LQWR WKH ÀUVW JUDGH DW “I do not want to have to EDFNWREDFNZLWKWKHÁXDQG
keep in mind this is a stress- is all new to everyone,” she Merritt Elementary. It was put my child in a situation QRWEHLQJDEOHWRÀJKWLW,UH-
e ful time,” she said. “Parents/ said. “New to our teachers a tough decision for him where she cannot hug her DOL]HWKDWÁXVHDVRQLVJRLQJ
guardians are making deci- and the school systems. But and his wife Connie to send friends, be made to wear a to be rough this year with
sions that they feel are best they’re all working hard to their daughter to school, but mask or be told that she can- COVID.”
for their families, [so] we keep our kids safe and keep because their daughter has not share,” Crelly said. “I She thinks that in-person
don’t need to shame others things as normal as pos- ADHD, they decided it was want her school to feel like
for those decisions.” sible.” school is important to her
too important for her devel- a safe place. I also don’t
This year, Ashley Thomp- Tarra Harrison of Dill City opment to stay home at this daughter, but she doesn’t
e want to deal with the fall-
son of Elk City has four kids has two daughters, one go- time. want to put her child in dan-
out if the school has to go to
s, and will have children at LQJ LQWR ÀIWK JUDGH DQG RQH ger with the unknowns of
“We feel as though with virtual halfway through the
Elk City elementary, middle entering the ninth, in Burns her learning disability, it’s year, and she doesn’t get to this virus.
school and high schools. Flat this fall. Outside of good for her to return to say goodbye to her friends “She’s so young I don’t
The children are involved school, the children are also school because she won’t again.” think it registers with her,”
in several extracurricular both involved in soccer. She fall too far behind,” Kale Her daughter will miss she said. “I can tell she miss-
activities, including cross prefers not to have a nega- said. “However, we are con- school and her friends but es playing with her friends
e country, track, football, tive outlook on the upcom- cerned about the virus being doesn’t like how in-person and misses school, but I’d
wrestling, cheerleading and ing school year. spread.” school looks during this rather not risk her health and
d
ÁDJ IRRWEDOO 6KH WKLQNV “I am hopeful,” she said. The Jacksons’ daughter time. life on the off chance she’s
school is crucial for their “I know our school has our will not be involved in ex- “My daughter wants to go one of the ones who can’t
mental and social develop- children’s safety in mind and tracurricular activities at this back to school, but not with ÀJKW&29,'DVZHOOµ

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The Tonkawa News

courts at Blinn Park.

he
ho
af- School board re-elects officers; Safety
protocols for in-person instruction adopted
Cara Beth Johnson has been re-elected president of the Tonkawa Board of Education.
Vice president will be Casey McAninch and clerk will be Nancy Appleman.
All the officers were re-elected at the August meeting of the board.
Safety protocols for the school year were adopted as provided by the Oklahoma State School
Boards Association. They can be found on page 8 of today’s issue.
s School Superintendent Lori Simpson said the OSSBA provides for four levels of student safety
based on the county’s level of infection in COVID-19. Level Green is the least restrictive, followed
by Yellow, Orange and Red.
an-
Kay County, thus Tonkawa Public Schools, is considered Zone Yellow.
ka-
Simpson said 44 elementary and 23 midhi/high school students have signed up to learn virtually
ch
this year. She said there are 9 midhi and high school students who are enrolled in Epic Charter and
es-
some others in all grades who are home-schooling.
is
She said she expects enrollment to be down about 50, mostly at the elementary school.
In other action, the board:
ed
-- Approved purchase orders totalling $5,061,938.20 with $60,034.74 from the general fund;
nd
$4,422,003.27 from payroll, $529,512 from bond 31 and $50,388.09 from bond 34.
in-
-- Approved core academic mathematics and science courses offered at Pioneer Tech Center to
mi-
include Algebra II, Geometry, Algebra of Finance, Pre-Calculus, Core Math, Biology II, Anatomy
and Physiology.
un
-- Voted to renew the Qualified Zone Academy Bond Lease for the fiscal year ending June 30,
all,
ck, 2021.
ea- -- Approved cash fund esti-
mate of needs of $540,000 for
me building bond fund 31.
all -- Approved the name of ac-
or tivity account FCCLA to “The
Crew.”
cs” -- Approved an alternative
Education Cooperative Pro-
(See BOARD Page 8) Best Practices For Protecting Yourself
The County Health Department is asking that everyone con-
tinue to follow these simple tips to protect yourself and those
your first day back
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 The Tonkawa News

or and backwash tanks, flooded suction

rim
Aug
13 on Board... sid
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(Continued from Page 1)
2020
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Page Blackwell schools. wi
0008 ts
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resized
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-- Approved the Virtual pr

re
Learning Contract as amended. fro
-- Approved the safety proto- am
nd
cols. ish
ce
-- Voted to accept the resig- sc
nation of Ashley Neal, pre-kin- Im
dergarten teacher. $5
e- -- Approved the Tonkawa
F
m- Public Schools Parent-student
Chromebook/Laptop Hand-
or book.
-- Approved the district’s
i- learning plan/online instruction
ve policy.
he -- Approved fundraisers for
ar the new school year.
ed -- Approved the revised
ce school calendar for the new
year. It can be found on page
a two of today’s issue.

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