Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Tulsa World Reporter
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In light of Ryan Walters’ departure as state superintendent, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has ordered an investigative audit of the State Department of Education.
“Now that former State Superintendent Ryan Walters has formally resigned, a number of current and former OSDE staff have raised credible concerns about the spending practices under his leadership,” Drummond wrote in a Wednesday email to State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, ordering the audit.
As requested, the audit would span Walters’ entire tenure as state superintendent, which ran from Jan. 9, 2023, through Tuesday. State statute allows for the Attorney General’s Office to call for an audit of government entities, including OSDE.
Walters announced his exit on Sept. 23 on a late night cable television program, but did not formally submit his written resignation to Gov. Kevin Stitt until Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday was his first day out of office.
Drummond is a Republican candidate for governor and in his letter ordering the audit, cited an audit released in 2023 from Byrd’s office of federal COVID-19 relief funds that were supposed to be overseen by a nonprofit organization led by Walters as additional justification for the request.
That audit flagged $1.83 million in questionable expenses that were allowed by that nonprofit organization, Every Kid Counts Oklahoma. It also prompted a multi-county grand jury investigation that did not yield any indictments, but did express concern about a lack of internal controls.
SAI press secretary Andrew Speno originally provided a written statement that the agency did not receive the formal request. However, Speno said Wednesday that the agency received the letter about 30 minutes before Drummond’s announcement, but from an unfamiliar email address.
“In the past, the AG would call or visit Auditor Byrd before requesting an investigative audit,” Speno said. “Given the seriousness of this request, I think direct contact from the AG would be in order. Why the AG suddenly chose an intermediary to communicate with Auditor Byrd, I have no idea.”
OSDE press secretary Madison Cercy could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
lenzy.krehbiel-burton@tulsaworld.com
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Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Tulsa World Reporter
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