Urged to investigate himself

CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler under investigation
Schuler, whose own investigations forced out two previous CPS CEOs, is now under scrutiny himself amid accusations he allegedly berated employees.

By Nader Issa and Lauren FitzPatrick Jan 31, 2020, 5:00pm CST

Chicago Public Schools Inspector General Nicholas Schuler Sun-Times Media
Nicholas Schuler, the inspector general whose investigations of Chicago Public Schools led to the ouster of two former CEOs, is now under scrutiny himself amid accusations he allegedly berated employees.

Anonymous complaints about Schuler, 52, prompted the school board to hire an outside law firm to conduct a probe.

One of the complaints, purporting to be from “employees in the office of Inspector General for Chicago Public Schools” and obtained by the Sun-Times, said that “the IG has created a toxic workplace for everyone.”

The complaint, which was not dated, continues: “He is verbally abusive to employees and yells at people so loud that the entire office can hear him. He made people cry when yelling at them. He also throws ‘temper tantrums’ and becomes physically threatening by slamming doors and other things.”

In December, the law firm gave the Board of Education a report with its findings, a source told the Sun-Times.

Schuler did not return calls and messages seeking comment Friday.

A Board of Education spokeswoman did not immediately comment. Nor did Board president Miguel Del Valle.


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Who oversees the IG’s office is unclear.

State law dictates that the “Inspector General shall be independent of the operations of the board.”

The mayor alone appoints the IG to a four-year term and can appoint a successor if “a vacancy in that office otherwise occurs,” the law says.