$23 Million in Missing Devices, Criminal Charges and Sexual Abuse Inv…

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

More than 77,000 electronic devises purchased by Chicago Public Schools, totaling some $23 million, were marked as lost or stolen in recent years according to the district’s watchdog, which blamed a “flawed” inventory and recovery process.

Those findings were among numerous cases highlighted in an annual report published Tuesday by CPS Inspector General Will Fletcher, which examined investigations undertaken by his office between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

“During this period, the (Office of Inspector General) received over 2,000 complaints of misconduct, waste, fraud, financial mismanagement, and adult-on-student sexual misconduct,” Fletcher’s office said in a statement. “The allegations ranged from relatively minor violations of Chicago Public Schools policies to criminal acts.”

Those cases included an assistant principal who was charged after allegedly stealing close to $275,000, numerous employees accused of fraudulently…