Parents, Local School Council members and community advocates used the Aug. 13 agenda review meeting to press the Chicago Public Schools administration for clearer action on two school‑level governance conflicts: Inter American and Kenwood Academy.

Inter American: removal request and retaliation claims
Parents from Inter American Elementary told the board the school community has endured a yearlong conflict with Principal Juan Saez (also referenced as Zayas in public testimony) and network leadership. Multiple speakers described staff reassignments, a long‑running vote of no confidence by the Local School Council (LSC), and what parents called retaliatory personnel actions.

Maria Luis Augarte, an LSC member and parent, told the board the community had “waited over a year” for CPS to act on LSC‑reported concerns and said the Illinois School Code permits removal of administrators pending investigation. “Remove him now,” Augarte told the board, pressing for an interim administrator and a prompt legal update to the LSC.

Kenwood Academy: LSC letter and calls to end harassment
Speakers on behalf of Kenwood’s LSC asked the board to acknowledge prolonged reputational harm and to protect staff from being held personally responsible for residency verification matters outside their control. The LSC’s written statement asked the board to provide protections to front‑office staff and to ensure residency enforcement is carried out professionally and proportionally.

Board member reactions
Several board members said they take the complaints seriously and asked for clearer staff briefings. Member Smith (whose district includes Kenwood) described concerns about “investigative harassment” of principals of color at high‑performing schools and asked the board to track whether leaders of color are being treated disproportionately. Member Brown and Member Boyce requested additional process briefings to ensure the board understands legal standards and options when LSCs and communities request principal removal.

Why it matters: governance, transparency and student impact
Parents said the disputes have created a climate of fear, disrupted school operations and undermined trust. The community asked CPS to speed up legal and administrative responses and to to appoint interim administrators where appropriate while investigations proceed.

District response and next steps
District staff said investigations were under way and emphasized the need to balance due process with student welfare. Several board members asked the superintendent and general counsel for a timeline, a public update to the LSC chair, and a briefing for the board on the applicable Illinois School Code provisions and CPS removal processes. The speakers asked for explicit protections for staff and an accelerated timeline to protect students and restore stability.