STOCKTON, Calif. – Most would agree that money spent by public schools should somehow be related to student learning.

After all, that’s why public schools exist.

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So what’s the explanation for the bloated travel budget in the Stockton, California school district?

In fiscal year 2014-15, the Stockton district spent $364,149 on travel-related costs, including hotels and related expenses, airlines and travel agencies.

Most school districts say the majority of their travel costs are for teacher professional development, at conferences and workshops at distant locations.

They justify the expense because they say it’s for the kids.

Yet the district’s state report card tells us that Stockton students fell woefully below the state average in test scores in the 2014-15 school year. So it’s hard to make the connection between academics and travel.

According to records, the Stockton district had 176 transactions at various hotels or resorts around the nation in 2014-15. A total of 63 transactions were at least $1,000.

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The most interesting destination was Harrah’s Las Vegas, where the district had 28 transactions for an eye-opening total of $39,564, with all but one transaction being made in April 2015.

The district also had 179 transactions with various airlines or booking agencies for a total of $88,162.

Another $80,199 was spent on 17 transactions with the Segale Travel Service.

That’s a lot of money invested, seemingly to help educators become more effective.

Yet Stockton students in grades 3-8, plus high school juniors, fell below the state average for competency in English language arts and math in state testing, according to the district’s report card.

Fewer than 20 percent of students met or exceeded basic standards in 9 of 16 categories. Between 20 and 30 percent made the grade in five categories, while 30 to 40 percent did so in only two categories.

In other words, they didn’t do very well compared to their peers in California.

The state average for the number of students meeting or exceeding expectations was at least 30 percent in 14 of the 15 categories.

If there’s supposed to be a connection between travel expenses and student learning in the Stockton district, it apparently hasn’t been made yet.