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Parents and LSC chair ask board to put Inter American Magnet principal on leave amid safety and budget allegations
Summary
Multiple speakers from Inter American Magnet School — a parent and the LSC chair — told the board they have sought removal of Principal Juan Carlos (transcript variants: Saez, Zayas) over alleged budget decisions, failures to report safety incidents to DCFS, poor communication with sanctuary teams, and retaliation; the LSC chair asked the board to place the principal on leave and update families.
Two speakers representing Inter American Magnet School told the Chicago Board of Education on Nov. 10 that they want the principal removed or placed on leave while investigations proceed.
Maria Luisa O'Garte, identified in the record as a CPS parent, said Principal Juan Carlos Saez had not allowed the sanctuary team to meet, had failed to communicate required information to families, and had ignored LSC requests for removal despite repeated appeals. "We have urged you to remove him so that students are not subjected to continued poor leadership," she told the board.
Dr. Julie Wexler, chair of the Inter American Magnet School Local School Council, said the LSC approved charges to remove Principal Juan Carlos Zayas more than a year ago. Wexler alleged that in 2024 the principal implemented his own budget rather than the one approved by the LSC and said that action "directly violated his contract and Illinois state law," according to her remarks. She also raised safety concerns, citing alleged failures to report mandated incidents to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and alleging retaliation against staff and LSC members who spoke up.
"Please place principal Dias on leave, and please update parents and staff who, to this day, have received no formal notice from CPS that principal Vaez has been under formal investigation and that the final outcome is pending," Wexler said (transcript contains multiple variants of the principal’s last name as spoken).
Why it matters: Parents and the LSC chair claim long-standing governance and safety problems at a district-managed magnet school and asked for immediate district intervention. The speakers tied procedural allegations (budget implementation conflicting with LSC-approved budgets) to possible contract and legal violations and sought a leave decision and more transparent communication with families.
Next steps: The speakers requested the board place the principal on leave and provide an update to parents and staff. The transcript does not show an on-the-record district response or a formal board directive during public participation.
