It seems the corruption that dominates our local politics extends to the area school system. The Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General dealt with over 1,000 complaints of fraud and waste between July 2007 and July 2008, an issue symbolized by the Cappuccino Machine Debacle. A CPS manager ordered 30 cappuccino machines, at a total cost of $67,000, for a work-school program.

But five months after the machines were purchased, 22 remained unopened, one disappeared and three were being used at two schools—though not in the culinary arts program for which they were intended, the district's inspector general said Tuesday. more ›