Tulsa, Oklahoma – In the wake of a revealing audit on Tulsa Public Schools (TPS), Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd has proposed significant changes to state laws aimed at curbing financial mismanagement. The audit, covering the years 2015-2023, brought to light various questionable practices involving school administrators and local vendors that could potentially run afoul of criminal laws.
The investigation highlighted instances where administrators benefited from vendor contracts and identified a concerning pattern of transactions just below the $50,000 mark, thereby sidestepping the district’s formal bidding process. One striking example noted in the audit was a personal company tied to an administrator receiving substantial payments from an engineering firm that served as a district vendor.
Responding to the findings, Byrd, who is also a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2026, has suggested amendments to ensure stricter enforcement of competitive bidding laws and a broadening of regulations concerning hiring consultants for districts. Byrd emphasized the necessity of these reforms at a community meeting organized by the Tulsa 912 Project, a conservative group.
In terms of transparency, Byrd recommended that school districts follow the model of county governments by publicly releasing detailed monthly expenditure reports. “If taxpayers could see detailed monthly lists of their school district’s expenditures, transparency would lead to better oversight,” Byrd said.
Amid discussions about accountability, several participants at the Tulsa 912 Project meeting inquired about possible criminal consequences for the involved administrators. While Byrd did not comment on the possibility of criminal charges, she confirmed that the audit’s results had been forwarded to the office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond for further examination.
The audit report, which was initiated at the request of Governor Kevin Stitt in 2022 following the sketchy practices of former TPS administrator Devin Fletcher, also touched upon potential violations of state law in spending related to teachings on race and sex, amounting to $5.3 million. Additionally, it addressed insufficient details concerning the utilization of $4.9 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
At a news conference announcing the audit findings, TPS board President Stacey Woolley accused Byrd of politicizing the release, an accusation that gained weight due to Byrd’s subsequent appearance at a politically charged event along with conservative board member E’Lena Ashley.
This unfolding scenario provides a glimpse into the complexities of managing public funds and the ongoing efforts by state officials to enhance governance and accountability. Such measures underscore the ongoing tension between educational governance and political influences, which periodically surface in various forms across governance spectrums.
At this juncture, the path forward is likely to involve rigorous discussions among lawmakers, educators, and the public on the best measures to implement for preventing future mismanagement. Byrd’s proposed legislative changes are now available for consideration by any interested lawmakers.
Meanwhile, reactions continue as community members express their discontent, highlighting the broader implications of such financial mismanagements on public trust and the efficiency of educational systems in handling public funds responsibly.
This article was automatically written by OpenAI, and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Requests for article removal, retractions, or corrections can be sent to [email protected].