CPS to Rescind All Credit Cards - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

FOX Chicago News broke the story about Ogden International School Principal Kenneth Staral Tuesday night, who used his Chicago Public Schools credit card to pay for luxury hotels and fancy meals all over the world .

Staral made a dozen trips to foreign countries in just 18 months, running up $17,000 in charges.

FOX Chicago viewers took to social media to respond to this story.

“Over the years, Mr. Staral has probably spent at least twice that amount of his own money on the school and the students,” one viewer wrote.

“This man is one of the most dedicated educators I have ever met,” another viewer wrote. “His life absolutely revolves around his students.”

“It does not matter how much money he’s raised for the school, this is not acceptable,” a third viewer wrote. “He may be a wonderful principal, but if he wants a gourmet meal, it should not be paid for by taxpayers.”

Principal Staral has not responded to calls or emails.

Chicago Schools Chief Administrator Tim Cawley ordered Thursday that all CPS credit cards be torn up and tossed away.

Cawley said he's following the lead of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who cut up the plastic at all the city's agencies just a couple months ago.

That's about 460 cards. A handful will be kept at the district for true emergencies.

Cawley said FOX Chicago’s story on Principal Staral's credit card spending raised enough questions that it has now been referred to the district's inspector general for investigation.