Dear PPS Parents,
We are writing to inform you of an accreditation recommendation the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) made today at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting. The OSDE staff has recommended that the district’s accreditation for 2024-2025 be downgraded to an accreditation with warning.
Though this is sobering news, we are not alarmed by this recommendation as it stems from the district’s own reporting of concerning purchases made from a technology vendor during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. In particular, upon discovering in 2023 that the district may have been a victim of fraud and that an employee had received unauthorized advance salary payments, board leadership immediately reported their concerns to OSDE staff in addition to law enforcement officials. This reporting led to an ongoing law enforcement investigation as well as other appropriate district actions.
Our district’s financial security, integrity, and transparency are paramount concerns. Consequently, we have enlisted the support of new district auditors and are adhering to their guidance. We are also keeping OSDE officials informed about our continuous efforts to review and improve our internal controls and purchasing practices. We are confident that our response to this matter will facilitate the district’s full recovery of accreditation next year.
In addition to seeking the recovery of allowable losses from our insurance carrier, we are optimistic that the criminal justice system will provide the district appropriate restitution. We have confidence in the work of federal law enforcement officials and are cooperating fully with their investigation.
We understand how you may have questions about the events that led us to this point. We will share what we responsibly can. However, we cannot provide detailed information that might interfere with the ongoing federal law enforcement investigation. That said, we will keep you updated with information as we are able to share it.
Thank you for your support and attention to this important update. Please know we will not let this matter distract our commitment to the day-to-day experiences of our students and staff. Our attention is focused squarely on our students, their wellbeing, and the quality and stability of their education.
Chad Wilson, Superintendent
Jason Proctor, Board President