TULSA, Okla. — The release of a high-profile forensic audit into Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) has been delayed, creating tension between the district and the State Auditor’s Office. The audit, which has been in the works for years, was expected to be released to the public in less than two weeks, but a last-minute move by the district has thrown a wrench into the process.
On Tuesday, State Auditor Cindy Byrd expressed frustration after TPS attorneys invoked a legal statute that would delay the release of the audit, accusing district officials of using the statute as a last-ditch effort to slow down the process. “We called this press conference to release the forensic audit report for Tulsa Public Schools. I’ve just been told I cannot do that today,” Byrd stated. “TPS administrators could have told us of their intent to invoke the statute at any time over the past two years.”
Byrd went on to say that she had never encountered a situation like this in her career and criticized some TPS administrators for delaying the completion of the audit. The State Auditor’s Office had been working on the audit for years, and Byrd suggested that the district had ample time to address any concerns or requests for review.
In response, TPS held its own news conference on Thursday to provide clarification from the district’s perspective. Caroline Crouch, the Executive Director of Communications for TPS, explained that the district had always believed it would be granted a two-week review process before the public release of the audit findings.
“It’s something that is not necessary to invoke,” Crouch said, referring to the legal statute invoked by TPS. “It is a state statute that has been on the books since 1999.”
Crouch further added that the district had only seen a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the audit findings, not the full audit report. “To date, we have not received a complete copy of the audit,” she stated. “We have requested the audit and other materials associated with it from the State Auditor’s office via an open records request.”
The delay has raised questions about transparency, particularly in light of the substantial costs incurred by the district in connection with the audit. TPS has been invoiced over $250,000 for the audit-related work. Crouch emphasized that the district is just as eager as the public to review the full findings in order to make any necessary improvements.
As the situation continues to unfold, the public will be watching closely to see how the dispute is resolved and when the full audit will finally be made available. The controversy surrounding the audit is yet another chapter in a years-long effort to ensure accountability and transparency within Tulsa Public Schools.
