HARTFORD, Conn. – In 2013, less than half of Hartford, Connecticut 10th graders were at or above proficiency in math on state standardized tests, and just over half met that threshold for science.

Those figures were roughly 30 percentage points lower than the statewide average.

For reading and writing, it wasn’t much better. Only 57 percent rated proficient or better in reading and 70.3 percent in writing. Statewide, the averages were 81 and 88.9 percent, respectively.

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That undoubtedly influenced district officials’ decision to hire dozens of new teachers and several social workers for the 2014-15 school year at a cost of about $3.6 million.

District leaders utilized millions in special state grants for low-performing schools to make that happen.

Significantly more money could have gone toward that cause if it wasn’t spent on luxury hotels and lavish trips for district employees, which totaled $218,038 during the 2013-14 fiscal year.

In addition, school officials authorized $105,025 in spending on restaurants and other food vendors.

EAGnews sifted through the Hartford school district’s check registry and credit card statements for travel and restaurant expenses for last year, and the numbers speak for themselves.

In many districts, school officials attempt to dismiss travel-related spending because some of it is funded through grants from the federal government, but that funding comes from taxpayers, as well, and they deserve to know how it’s spent.

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District records, secured through a public information request, show school employees taking trips to Atlanta; Rochester and Jericho, New York; Philadelphia; Seattle; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Orlando; Portland; Chicago; Boston; New York City; Los Angeles; Mashantucket, Connecticut; Denver; Nashville; Milwaukee; San Francisco; New Haven, Connecticut; Las Vegas; East Lansing, Michigan; Middlebury, Vermont; Charleston, South Carolina; Norwood, Massachusetts; Portland; Cincinnati and other locales.

In total, the district spent $176,639 on lodging at 79 different hotels or resorts, including four vendors who were paid five figures: the Marriott Hotel at $16,156, the Hartford Marriott at $15,013, the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta at $14,399 and the Hyatt Regency in Rochester, New York at $10,116.

Thirty-eight hotels also received four figures in Hartford school funds, including Seattle’s Cedarbrook Lodge, known as “the finest hotel near the Seattle airport. Period,” according to its website.

School officials spent $2,482 at Cedarbrook, but ran up much larger tabs at the Courtyard by Marriott for $9,539, Double Tree by Hilton for $8,532, “Keystone Reservation” – presumably for Keystone Resort in Colorado – for $6,886, and Residence Inn Philadelphia for $5,342, among others.

Airfare and other related charges cost taxpayers an additional $41,399, with the bulk, $16,178, going to Southwest Airlines. American Airlines took in $7,905 from Hartford schools, while US Airways received $6,601, Delta was paid $5,125 and United received $3,952. The district also used the budget airline Jet Blue for $1,393 worth of services.

The district also ran up a $105,025 tab for restaurants and various food vendors.

The list included ABC Pizza for $2,960, Vitos Pizzeria for $2,512, Chris’s Pizza for $2,511, City Pizza for $2,429, South Whitney Pizza for $1,848, A1 Pizza for $1,583, Omega Pizza for $1,578, Woodland Pizza for $758, South End Pizza for $595, Prospect Pizza for $386, Kent Pizza 3 for $369, Pietros Pizza for $279, Empire Pizza for $256, Gino’s Pizza for $210, George’s Pizza for $180, Pizza Plus for $179, Pizza Time for $150, and New Park Pizza for $100.

District officials also spent $2,507 at 11 different Dunkin Donuts locations last year.

Other significant restaurant spending included charges at Max Bibo’s LLC for $12,236, The Spicy Green Bean for $6,054, and First & Last Bakery for $5,108.

District officials spent more than $1,000 with 29 different food vendors, and up to $1,000 with 69 others.