Chicago Teachers Union Recording Secretary Michael Brunson issued the following statement today in response to allegations of grift and excessive spending through the widespread use of gift cards by Chicago Public Schools employees and school administrators: “This kind of shameful mismanagement and lack of oversight doesn’t surprise us in the least, and speaks to the ongoing need for an elected, representative school board. The dollar amounts mentioned, while insignificant to some, represent the willingness of district employees and school administrators to place their own interests before the needs of our school communities—going so far as to risk their own employment and livelihoods by committing theft and acts of fraud.

“With all of the resources that our students and their families lack, both inside of the classroom and in their own communities, it’s extremely disappointing to witness such selfishness coming from school administrators and Central Office. We appreciate the work Inspector General Nicholas Schuler and his office have done in uncovering this and other malfeasance, and ask that he continue his rigorous investigation into other community concerns such as the Art In Motion Performing Arts Charter School proposal, which we believe is rife with conflicts of interest, the involvement of at least one individual with a history of corruption in Chicago’s public schools and potentially serious ethics concerns related to principle parties involved in the privatization project.”