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Topics for Fourth Thursday "Lunch & Learns" Announced, Registration Open



The Statewide Charter School Board kicks off its online Fourth Thursday Lunch and Learn series on July 24 at noon with Power of the Public Record: Discovering the Data Defining Your School. The presentation, just like all future in the series will be live, online and one hour in length. Each event also will offer one-hour of state-approved training credit for school board members; however, anyone can register for the free events and is encouraged to do so.


Power of the Public Record will inform on the performance, demographics, and financial public data that exists for Oklahoma charter schools by unpacking the 2024 Annual Report of Oklahoma Charter Schools (to be released on July 14) and its accompanying interactive data platform. Participants likely will be surprised by how the platform harnesses the full scope of comparative public data available on individual charter schools and impressed with how it will raise the bar on public accountability and transparency when it debuts July 14. Both charter school board members and leaders are encouraged to sign up for the session.


Its presenter will be Shelly Hickman, communications director for the SCSB and whose career includes being the former press secretary of the State Department of Education, Epic Charter Schools and Norman Public Schools. SCSB Executive Director Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson also will be involved in the session.

Other confirmed Lunch and Learn events include


August 28: "New Legislation Impacting Charter Schools," presented by Barry Schmelzenbach, executive director of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Association

September 25: "It Should Come as No Surprise: Red Flags & All Clears in School Budgets & Periodic Financials," presented by Skyler Lusnia, SCSB Compliance Director

October 23: "Top 10 Ways Boards Violate Open Records & Open Meetings Acts," presented by Bill Hickman, founder of Hickman Law Group and general counsel for several charter schools

The Fourth Thursday Lunch and Learn schedule and access to registration also is available on the SCSB training page.


Please reach out to Shelly Hickman for any questions related to the Lunch and Learn series at shelly.hickman@scsb.ok.gov. And, should you encounter any difficulty in registering, contact amy.gibson@scsb.ok.gov.