Leaders of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) in Norristown have used public funds to book roughly $40,000 worth of travel to three continents, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Through a Right-to-Know request, The Inquirer obtained records showing that the MCIU’s executive director, Regina Speaker, and its assistant executive director, Sandra Edling, have traveled to South Korea, Singapore, and Africa—including a 14-day safari through Kenya and Tanzania that cost about $18,000—since 2023.

“Travel from towering Mount Kenya to the wild expanses of the Serengeti to witness the drama of the bush unfolding around you,” the online brochure for the safari reads.

Some of the credit card charges reportedly lacked receipts and were approved by two presidents of the Montco IU board and a now-retired assistant executive director. Jennifer Wilson, who served on MCIU’s board from 2017 to last November, said some looked more like “vacations” that shouldn’t have been covered by public money.

Speaker described the trips as professional-development outings, The Inquirer said.

“Our big mission is to be part of the global community,” Speaker, a former superintendent, said in an interview. Her base salary in 2025 was $298,000.

Montgomery County’s Facebook page posted the following on Thursday, March 19:

The MCIU has a $198 million budget and 848 employees and provides support services to more than 200 public and private schools, The Inquirer said.