Waste of the Day: Baltimore Schools’ Massages, Steak Dinners
Topline: Student performance in Baltimore City Public Schools is among the worst in the nation, but that has not stopped the district from splurging on its staff members, spending at least $613,181. The schools spent at least $529,306 on 426 catering orders for employees in 2024, bought them massages, rented out a private IMAX movie theater and more, according to vendor payment records obtained by Open the Books.
Key facts: Over $117,000 worth of food spending came during various “staff appreciation” events at Baltimore’s 154 schools. That included beignets, $16,000 in omelettes, $4,262 in honey-baked ham and orders from several seafood restaurants.
There was also catering for dozens of professional development sessions costing at least $144,000, including a $5,422 trip to TopGolf in August 2024 and a $3,680 trip to Dave & Buster’s in July 2024.
Staff meals were also served for the first day of school, last day of school, holiday parties including a “CEO’s Holiday Luncheon,” New Teachers’ Day, Back to School Night and much, much more. In at least one instance, teachers received catered meals for having perfect attendance at their paid job.
There were other meals purchased with school funds that are not included in the $529,306 total because payment records do not specifically say the food was for staff. One school spent $1,500 at Morton’s Steak House — where the cheapest steak on the menu is $59 — but it’s unclear who was dining.
Of course, staff members need somewhere to eat all of that food. One Baltimore school spent $5,525 remodeling the teachers’ lunch room, and another spent $8,315 on renovations for its teachers’ lounge.
Spending was not limited to catering. In May 2024, the school district spent $10,000 on 26 personalized North Face hooded jackets for staff members. On August 23, 2024, $2,200 was spent to rent out a planetarium and IMAX theater for a 50-person teacher workshop at the Maryland Science Center.
During one school’s Staff Appreciation Week in May, administrators spent $4,675 on “chair massage services to show appreciation and support staff morale.” A massage therapist was also hired in April at a rate of $125 per hour, though invoice records do not specify who received massages. Another staff appreciation event in December 2023 included a DJ booth and a 360-degree photo booth.
There were at least $67,000 worth of other staff gifts purchased throughout 2024, including $1,300 for car detailing, $2,949 in plaques, $5,400 in water bottles and $3,687 in hats.
Search all federal, state and local salaries and vendor spending with the world’s largest government spending database at OpenTheBooks.com.
Background: Baltimore’s students ranked 23rd out of the 25 largest school districts in America on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, which measures math and reading ability. Only 9% of eighth graders were graded as “proficient” in math and 16% were proficient in reading. Across Maryland, there are 23 schools where not even one student is proficient in math.
Summary: When student outcomes are as poor as they are in Baltimore, taxpayer funding should be focused on educational resources — not massages and buffet meals.
The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com
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