CPS IG: Scott "Irresponsibly" Spent Funds

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 4, 2011 7:36PM

We found out a few weeks back that former CPS Board President Michael Scott was facing some financial hardships in the months leading up to his November 2009 suicide. Today's Sun-Times has a report from CPS's inspector General showing that the cash-strapped school system spent more than $800,000 for parties at a former board president's home, catered lunches, booze and even a check for bugs. And we don't mean insects.

Inspector General James M. Sullivan's report contradicts the school system's message that it's trying to be fiscally responsible. To wit:

“The board allows for double reimbursements, the purchase of alcohol with public funds, catered lunches, publicly funded holiday parties and other gratuitous expenditures,” Sullivan wrote. “The message that budget cuts need to be made rings hollow when the board itself uses CPS funds irresponsibly.”

The questionable spending happened under the Board presidencies of Scott and Rufus Williams. According to the expense reports, Scott spent $92,900 worth of donations to not-for-profits on which Scott or a family member of Scott’s at some point “served as a member of the board of directors;” $979 for a one-night stay by Williams in a New York City hotel when he visited the Harlem Children’s Zone, and a $1,734 limousine tab during a Washington trip.; $1,978 on alcoholic beverages, and $3,000 for a sweep of eavesdropping devices for the offices of Scott and former CPS CEO Ron Huberman. Sullivan's report totals the questionable expenditures at $822,000.