Chicago Public Schools Office of the Inspector General is urging district officials to reform travel policies amid “questionable, excessive and even exorbitant” spending on overnight trips, according to a report released Wednesday.
CPS travel expenditures, including airfare and lodging, more than doubled between fiscal year 2019 and 2024, surging from $3.6 million to $7.7 million, the report said.
Over and over, CPS staffers exceeded spending limits, bypassed required preapprovals and expensed activities “of dubious necessity or value to students.”
“Many taxpayers would find some excursions described in this report objectionable and even excessive — especially in tight budget times,” the report said.
The Office of the Inspector General is the independent oversight body for CPS, charged with investigating allegations of financial mismanagement, fraud and employee misconduct. Its recent findings come on the heels of the district’s protracted budget battle — a saga that left officials cash-strapped and scrambling to prevent classroom cuts. CPS faced a $734 million deficit before passing a $10.2 billion budget in August.