Nowata Star

Aug
05

2020

Page
A011 Epic now largest school district in state
Clip Epic Public Charter Schools
resized
66% released county-by-county
enrollment data on the heels
of last week’s announcement
that the virtual charter school
is now the largest public
school district in the state.
The virtual public charter
school has students in all 77
counties in Oklahoma. Cur-
rent total enrollment for the
upcoming school year is
40,631 students, and hundreds
more are enrolling each day.
EPIC currently has 75 en-
rolled student in Nowata
County.
clude giving our parents a lot
of choices and supporting our
faculty through competitive
compensation and low class
sizes. We’re ready to meet the
challenges of the upcoming
school year and do our part to
help our state.”
Hickman said the school’s
internal data shows about 60
percent of new enrollments
are due to the pandemic,
while 40 percent of new en-
rollees have indicated their
enrollment is unrelated to
COVID-19.
“Whatever their reasons
for coming to us are, we’re
ready,” Hickman said. “We
serve kids and families in
Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but
we also serve kids from plac-
es like Guymon and Atoka.
We understand the uncertain-
ty of the times, and we hope
to be a bridge for the families
who have chosen to start the
school year with us.”
EPIC begins its school year,
as it does every year, the day
after Labor Day, September 8

D’Vinci
Other regional counties in-
clude: Craig, 213; Washing-
ton, 339; Rogers, 718; Otta- Coming SOON
wa, 367; Delaware, 425; and
Mayes, 405.
“The shift to distance learn-
ing happened slowly and then
all at once,” EPIC Assistant
Superintendent Shelly Hick-
man said. “EPIC has had 10
years to sharpen best practices
for virtual learning, which in-

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 The Lincoln County News

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Dale schools scheduled

Aug
06
to start August 12
MIKE McCORMICK this is going to be handy common sense and we’re
2020 Staff Writer in a year.” JRLQJ WR KDYH WR EH ÀH[-
Teachers are being pro- ible.
Page
Dale Schools will still vided with virtual train- “Our kids need to be in
A003 begin the new year on ing. Throckmorton said, school,” he reiterated.
Clip Wednesday, Aug. 12, “Some are struggling. “We are going to keep it
resized
60% Acting School Supt. Ky They’re doing a great job. as simple as possible,” he
Wilkins informed the Our teachers are stressed stressed.
Board of Education Mon- out right now, but things Wilkins also told board
day evening. are going well,” he added. members, “We got our
“Our reopen plan is to “We’re getting lot of state aid allocation and it’s
roll the buses out of here calls from parents each about $100,000 short. We
at 7 a.m. that morning,” he day. We’re trying to an- expected that. We’re hop-
advised members. swer all their questions. ing for another CARES
He also told the board We need our kids in the Act. But we have to pay
members “If we have a classroom,” he thinks. attention to expenses
student test positive of +HUHODWHGWKDWWKH¿IWK though.
COVID-19, we’re going grade is being moved to “We’ll watch our sup-
to follow CDC guidelines the sixth grade building. plies. We have $53,000 in
as handed down by the Throckmorton said only education sales tax funds.
Oklahoma State Health six elementary students In other business:
Department.” are signed up for Virtual at The board reorganized.
Wilkins said, “We’ll use this time, but we know of Tim Collins is now presi-
our system also to notify a few others.” Administra- dent, Roger Batt is vice
everyone in the district if WRUVVDLGWKHUHDUHVWX- president and Ronnie
and when someone tests dents in grades 6-12 who Newton is clerk.
positive.” are signed up for Virtual. Board members ap-
Wilkins along with El- He noted, “Virtual is proved participation in
ementary Principal Bruce not going away. It’s new the Alternative Education
Throckmorton and Assis- to our teachers.” He men- program with Bethel Pub-
tant Secondary Principal tioned to the board that he lic Schools. Wilkins said
J.D. Widener anticipate believes, “We’ll get some this participation with
the overwhelming major- of those kids back from Bethel has been in place
ity of students will attend EPIC Charter.” several years now.
classes on campus. Both Wilkins said, “We’re They approved a non-
traditional and virtual are teaching Oklahoma stan- discrimination policy.
offered and available, but dards. “We’re just revising it,”
they estimate at this time “I’d say 99 percent of the board was told.
RQO\  WR  ZLOO DWWHQG the teachers are on board They also approved the
virtually. with whatever we have to student policy handbook
“Our kids want to be do. No one has all the an- and were informed there
here,” Wilkins said. swers. We’re going to do are no changes.
Wilkins told the board, the best we can. Everyone Fundraisers were autho-
though, “This has to be wants normalcy,” Wilkins rized for the Vo-Ag pro-
right. We have to dot the feels. gram, the band program
I’s and cross the T’s. Regarding masks that and the Elementary school
He acknowledged that are required for students in that order.
virtual “has not been an in the second grade and Board members also
easy process.” He ex- up, along with all teach- hired Oklahoma Speech
plained. “The vast major- ers and staff, Wilkins em- Consultants, PLLC at $65
ity of the teachers think phasized, “We have to use an hour.

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