Introduction to the Case
In a lawsuit filed Thursday that includes salacious details about investigations into Chicago Public Schools principals, a longtime school district investigator is alleging she was fired as she delved into politically and racially charged cases and refused to change reports, despite pressure from high-level officials.
Background on the Investigation
In her lawsuit, Kelly Tarrant says that on June 17, she was going to interview a Local School Council member who works in an alderperson’s office and is accused of wrongdoing. Instead, she was called into a teleconference with her CPS law department boss and told she was being suspended due to a complaint of discrimination and “other serious misconduct.” A few days after that meeting, she was given a severance agreement, which she alleged in a press conference Thursday, was “designed to buy my silence.” She didn’t sign.
Aftermath of the Suspension
A month later, after being removed from the CPS payroll and health insurance, “she acknowledged the obvious: she had been terminated from employment with CPS,” according to the lawsuit. “The lawsuit filed today is about accountability,” Tarrant said Thursday. “It is about what happens when an investigator within a public institution does her job too well and asks too many questions and follows the evidence where it leads. It is about the retaliation and obstruction that occurs when truth threatens power.”
Response from CPS
CPS, in a statement, said, “in accordance with District policy, CPS does not comment on pending litigation.” Former Chicago Principals and Administrators Association President Troy LaRaviere has been critical of Tarrant’s investigations, saying they focus too much on proving accusations, rather than on discovering the truth.
Details of the Investigations
Tarrant’s lawsuit says the investigation into the LSC member was one of three “politically sensitive” investigations that her bosses knew she was working on. The lawsuit doesn’t detail the other two, but says she believes that after she was fired those investigations were closed. The lawsuit charges that Tarrant’s firing violated several laws, including ones that protect whistleblowers and people from being discriminated against by race or age. Tarrant is Latina.
Investigation into Abdul Muhammad
The lawsuit says the principals association undertook a “retaliatory campaign” in response to her 2023 investigation into Abdul Muhammad, the Black principal at Lindblom High School, which it charged was racist. Tarrant says she was not allowed to respond and CPS did not defend against the charges of racism. She filed a complaint over this, first with the CPS Equal Opportunity Compliance Office and then, when she heard nothing about that complaint for two years, with the federal EEOC. After filing these complaints, Tarrant received the worst evaluation of her career at CPS and her report on the Lindblom principal was graded “needs improvement,” according to the lawsuit.
Former Lindblom Math and Science Academy Principal Abdul Muhammad (center) during a press conference to “demand justice for CPS principals” in July 2023. On the left is former Chicago Principals and Administrators Association President Troy LaRaviere.
Investigation into Gerald Morrow
Tarrant also claims in her lawsuit that there was inappropriate interference in another investigation into a Black principal. Like Lindblom’s principal, Dunbar High School Principal Gerald Morrow was abruptly pulled from his post in 2022. The lawsuit says that Tarrant’s investigation found Morrow converted the pool area at his school into a personal “salon” where he had a massage table on which he received massages and held parties, after which staff found liquor bottles and bikini swimsuits. She also found two of his LSC members listed a church as a residence and did not live in the attendance area.
Allegations of Undue Influence
After issuing this report, Tarrant claims in her lawsuit that the then-general counsel told her that top administrators had gotten a call from an outside politician asking for leniency for the LSC members. In both these cases, the lawsuit accuses the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association of exerting undue influence. It also charges that CPAA influence caused “CPS to change policy to bar removal of principals for misconduct.”
Response from LaRaviere
Former CPAA President LaRaviere has publicly taken aim at Tarrant’s investigations. When contacted about the lawsuit, he called the investigation into the Lindblom principal the worst he has ever seen. He also defended the Dunbar principal, saying there was no video evidence of the parties and that the so-called massage table was actually a physical therapy table donated to the school’s athletic program. LaRaviere said Tarrant never gave these principals a chance to defend themselves, nor was she open to evidence that they didn’t commit wrongdoing.
Conclusion
The lawsuit filed by Kelly Tarrant against CPS highlights the complexities and challenges faced by investigators in public institutions, particularly when dealing with politically and racially charged cases. The allegations of undue influence, retaliation, and obstruction of justice are serious and warrant further investigation. As the case unfolds, it will be important to consider the implications for accountability, transparency, and the protection of whistleblowers in public institutions.
FAQs
- Q: What is the basis of Kelly Tarrant’s lawsuit against CPS?
A: Tarrant alleges she was fired for digging into politically and racially charged cases and refusing to change reports despite pressure from high-level officials. - Q: What were some of the investigations Tarrant was working on before her termination?
A: Tarrant was working on investigations into several principals, including Abdul Muhammad of Lindblom High School and Gerald Morrow of Dunbar High School, which involved allegations of misconduct and improper use of school resources. - Q: How has the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association responded to Tarrant’s allegations?
A: The association, through its former president Troy LaRaviere, has criticized Tarrant’s investigations, suggesting they were subpar and focused too much on proving accusations rather than uncovering the truth. - Q: What are the implications of this case for public institutions and whistleblowers?
A: The case highlights the challenges faced by investigators in public institutions and the need for protections against retaliation and obstruction of justice to ensure accountability and transparency.
