After $61K Trip, Moratorium Issued On Travel

[left-of-center2012]

After $61K Miami Trip, Hartford (CT) Superintendent Issues Moratorium On Most Out-of-State Travel

HARTFORD, CT — Superintendent Beth Schiavino-Narvaez has issued an immediate moratorium on most out-of-state travel for school employees after a recent conference trip to Florida racked up a $61,275 bill in the middle of Hartford's budget crisis.

Among the educators who descended on the Magnet Schools of America national conference in Miami early this month were 33 employees from the Hartford public schools.

The hotel stay in downtown Miami cost $25,214 for the administrators, teachers and support staff from 10 Hartford magnet schools and the district's Office of School Choice who were in attendance. Airfare was $12,004 and the conference fees added up to $24,057 for all 33 employees, including eight magnet school principals, according to the district.

On top of the $61,275, employees who went on the trip can still submit for expenses, such as meals not covered by the conference ...

http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartford-schools-travel-moratorium-0527-20160526-story.html

[ProfessorGAC]

1. OK, But. . .

. . .That's only $1850 per person, including the airfare, conference attendance, and hotel. I'm assuming this was not a one day trip, so we're talking 25k for probably 99 days in the hotel. (I'm guessing 4 days, 3 nights for the conference.) Pricey (not a Motel 6), but not extravagant for Miami.

I get there is a budget crisis, but the money isn't that ridiculous. If this is a controversy, it should be about not cancelling the trip before it happened if money was so tight.

The wording in this snip makes it seem like they're accusing the attendees of something. That doesn't appear to be the case.