Chicago Schools Watchdog Reveals Travel Spending Doubled Post-COVID

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have come under scrutiny after a recent report indicated that employee travel spending more than doubled following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the inspector general’s investigative report released on October 25, 2023, overnight travel expenses reached an alarming $7.7 million in 2024, compared to $3.6 million in 2019, the last full school year before the pandemic. Some of the trips taken were described as “questionable, excessive, and even exorbitant.”

Las Vegas emerged as the top destination for CPS employees, despite many seminars attended there being available locally or through virtual options. Other notable trips included excursions to distant locations such as Finland and Estonia. Inspector General Philip Wagenknecht highlighted a lack of sufficient oversight in the district’s travel policies, stating, “Clearly, in this system there was not significant oversight… If more had been done in that area, a lot of money could have been saved.”

In response to the findings, CPS announced a freeze on nearly all overnight travel, effective October 29, 2024. The district plans to establish a travel review committee to consider Wagenknecht’s recommendations, which include implementing a two-level approval process for student travel and enforcing existing cost-saving measures.

The investigation assessed travel expenses over the past six years, revealing that the surge in spending coincided with CPS receiving $2.8 billion in federal COVID relief funds. This influx of money provided additional budget flexibility for schools and the central office, allowing for increased travel opportunities that may not have been justified.

CPS policy requires staff to seek pre-approval for any out-of-town travel, detailing itineraries and estimated costs. However, the inspector general’s report described the travel manual as “riddled with holes,” leading to misinterpretations and disregard for the rules. Some employees undertook trips without proper approval, staying in luxury accommodations and booking expensive flights.

In one striking example, a teacher spent $4,700 on a week-long trip to a luxury Hawaiian resort for a four-day professional seminar, while other employees participated in multi-day retreats at spas funded by CPS, despite the locations being less than 50 miles from their work sites. The investigation also unveiled the misuse of funds on international trips that included numerous “optional” tourist activities.

The report cited instances of questionable purchases and “outright fraud.” In one case, a clerk modified an invoice from a travel agency to eliminate references to a lavish hotel suite before submitting it for approval. Another incident involved a principal who booked a luxury hotel on the Las Vegas Strip for a conference, extending their stay to celebrate an anniversary with a spouse who is not a CPS employee. CPS is currently evaluating potential disciplinary actions against these individuals as recommended by the inspector general.

Oversight failures extended to international travel as well. Eight CPS schools arranged 15 overseas trips through a single travel agency that, while an approved vendor, lacked a formal contract with the district. The agency charged hidden fees of up to 20%, raising further concerns about the appropriateness of these arrangements. One elementary school reportedly paid $20,000 for a staff development trip to Egypt, which was criticized for its focus on tourist activities rather than professional development.

The findings from this investigation highlight significant lapses in oversight and accountability within the Chicago Public Schools, prompting calls for reform to ensure that travel expenditures are justified and conducted in a fiscally responsible manner. CPS emphasized its commitment to addressing the issues raised, stating it takes the inspector general’s findings seriously and will continue to uphold ethical standards in its policies and procedures.