A former investigations manager for Chicago Public Schools is suing the Board of Education after her firing, alleging that her supervisors attempted to interfere in a string of “politically sensitive” cases.
Kelly Tarrant served as the district’s investigations manager for seven years before her suspension in June. At the time, she was conducting several high-profile investigations, according to a civil complaint filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court.
“Politically prominent persons outside of CPS had imposed pressure upon (Tarrant)’s direct supervisors to block (Tarrant) from exposing what she had already found in her investigations,” the complaint said.
One of those cases involved a Local School Council representative, who Tarrant learned serves as chief of staff to Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, according to the filing.
The suit accuses the Board of Education of violating the Illinois Whistleblower Act, as well as retaliatory discharge, racial discrimination and age discrimination.
“(The lawsuit) is about what happens when an investigator within a public institution does her job well, too well, and asks too many questions,” Tarrant said at a news conference Thursday. “It is about the retaliation and obstruction that occurs when truth threatens power.”
CPS said in a statement that it doesn’t comment on pending litigation in accordance with district policy.
Tarrant began working in CPS’ law department in 2018, and was promoted to manager of investigations a year later. In the role, she oversaw investigations into allegations against principals, staff and contractors.
Tarrant, who is Hispanic, alleged that she began to experience “marginalization and exclusion” from CPS staffers starting in 2023. That year, she was tasked with investigating the principal of Lindblom Math & Science Academy in West Englewood. After finding evidence of mismanagement, the principal, who is Black, was removed from his position, according to the filing.
Following the principal’s removal, the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association began “a retaliatory campaign … claiming racism,” according to the complaint. Tarrant requested that CPS formally deny the accusations against her, but senior officials refused, the suit alleged. CPAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tarrant then filed a complaint against her supervisors through the district’s Equal Opportunity Compliance Office for “intentional discrimination.” No action was taken on Tarrant’s complaint, the suit said.
In another case, Tarrant said she found no evidence of negligence by CPS staff at Marshall High School in East Garfield Park after a student required emergency medical attention. But senior CPS officials demanded Tarrant conduct a “do-over” of the report, in part because parents were not satisfied, according to the filing.
In recent years, Tarrant “expressed her unease over improper action of Board members” and senior officials making demands that investigations be conducted again, the suit said.
Prior to her suspension in June, Tarrant was investigating Vanessa Valentin, a LSC council representative at Steinmetz High School in Belmont Cragin. Tarrant said she discovered Valentin did not live within the LSC district and found evidence that she was misusing CPS contract funds, the suit said. Valentin serves as the chief of staff to Ald. Villegas. She could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
The week Tarrant had scheduled an interview with Valentin, she was abruptly suspended by CPS, according to the complaint. Tarrant was later informed that a complaint had been filed against her for “potential discrimination, harassment and retaliation.” The suit stated that the claims were false.
“They terminated her for payroll. They terminated her from her benefits. She’s been suffering financially because of that,” said Stephen Boulton, Tarrant’s attorney with Anthony J. Peraica & Associates. “She has no recourse but to go to court to try and clear her name.”
During the time, the complaint said Tarrant was investigating “three politically sensitive matters.” At least one has since been closed by CPS without further investigation, according to the filing.
The suit asks lost pay and benefits, compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees.
“This lawsuit seeks justice, not only for me, but for every employee within CPS,” Tarrant said.
Boulton, Tarrant’s attorney, is the former chair of the Chicago Republican Party. Peraica served as Cook County Commissioner from 2002 to 2010, and unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for several countywide seats. He has also filed lawsuits against Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“The school system has a $10.2 billion budget, they have a $730 million deficit, also a debt in excess of $10 billion …What is the cost of corruption?” Peraica said.