CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler quits abruptly

Chicago Public Schools Inspector General Nicholas Schuler quit his post Monday, city officials confirmed.

In a statement Monday morning, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she accepted the resignation of the schools watchdog. His last day will be Feb. 29.

"The mayor thanks Mr. Schuler for his years of dedicated service to Chicago Public Schools and the city of Chicago. The Chicago Public Schools inspector general performs the critical role of ensuring the integrity of important functions within Chicago Public Schools, particularly regarding allegations of sexual assault or abuse. As a result, the mayor's office will immediately begin the search for a replacement to ensure the rights of all students, teachers and staff remain protected."

Schuler told his staff of his decision to resign from the position that he held since 2014 at a meeting Monday morning.

Schuler still had more than two years left in his current term.

In a brief statement, he said, "I have no comment other than that I'm proud of the work we have accomplished here over the past 5 years."

The Sun-Times reported Friday that anonymous complaints about Schuler, 52, prompted the city's school board to hire an outside law firm to conduct a probe into the head of the office of almost 50 employees and at least $3.64 million budget.

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."

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