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() The Chicago Public Schools district paid nearly $400,000 to 36 people who were on the district’s do-not-hire list to officiate high school sporting events, according to a report released by the Board of Education inspector general.
The report, which includes findings from investigations on matters that took place between July 1, 2023, and June 30 of last year, found CPS used former employees despite being on the list that would keep them from holding a job with the district.
The inspector general’s office found that one ex-CPS employee who worked as a game official had a felony conviction for kidnapping and that at least eight sports officials had previously been investigated for alleged sexual misconduct with students.
The inspector general found that at least 36 former employees were paid a total of $390,000 to officiate games for the district. The report said the district and the CPS Office of Sports Administration had been relying on criminal background checks conducted by the Illinois High School Association to certify its sports officials.
That was the case even though the IHSA’s background check system is not as thorough as the system used by CPS for standard vendor background checks, the report said.
Emails sent by to spokespersons for Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois High School Association seeking comment were not immediately returned Friday.
The investigator general’s office recommended CPS bring its sports official certification process and onboarding process into compliance with CPS policies. The report indicated the district has subsequently blocked all individuals on the do-not-hire list so they can no longer be used to officiate district sporting events.
The report indicated that the district told the inspector general’s office that it is currently conducting “refresh” background checks on each of the state’s 1,752 active officials and will ensure that all officials who are certified by the IHSA also go through the district’s vendor background check before they are permitted to officiate CPS sporting events.