By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – District 87 school board members, some administrators, and spouses dined at taxpayers’ expense at an upscale Chicago seafood restaurant, and the district’s superintendent said that won’t happen again.
All seven board members and six administrators were attending the annual Illinois Association of School Boards’ annual conference in November, held at Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.
Superintendent Barry Reilly said he arranged for the fancy seafood dinner, and planned the rest of the trip, including transportation on Amtrak.
The restaurant tab for the dinner was $1,800, or about $100 a person, according to receipts obtained through Freedom of Information requests from Illinois News Network.
“I’m the guy who sets up those logistics. That’s on me, and so I need to do better,” the superintendent said.
Reilly said he’ll look for ways to cut costs for next year’s conference, although he noted Chicago is an expensive city.
“Certainly, we can go to areas that are more reasonable. It’s difficult sometimes in the city, as folks know, when it comes to dining out,” said Reilly.
“We’ll certainly get a closer eye on that for next year,” he added.
The network said lodging at the Sheraton for the four-day, three-night conference was about $8,122.98.
Total cost to District 87 taxpayers for the trip was $18,183.
Reilly defended the district’s participation in what he said is the only major conference for board members each year.
Reilly said conference sessions help board members govern and enact policies benefiting students.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at howard.packowitz@cumulus.com.
