The district finalized the removal of Principal Bylaitis this morning. We are now shifting our focus to monitoring the transition process and ensuring that all mandatory reporting protocols are strictly enforced moving forward.
June 8, 2021
Final supporters
Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Dr. Janice Jackson, Chicago Public Schools CEO
Will Fletcher, Chicago Public Schools Inspector General
Maurice Swinney, Chicago Public Schools Chief Equity Officer
**(para español ver más abajo)**
We, concerned parents and stakeholders, of Inter-American Magnet School feel compelled to submit this petition for the immediate removal of Principal Daniela Bylaitis for cause.
In January 2020, a parent was pulled aside by a school employee and informed that an adult CPS custodian was engaging in inappropriate behavior with her 5 year old daughter. Specifically, the employee described what is defined in CPS policy as "Grooming" across multiple interactions with the child. The principal and staff failed to adequately report this incident to all required authorities. This has left the girl's family devastating and traumatized.
Like many cases in CPS with inappropriate behavior and touching; this investigation is rife with inconsistencies. As of April 8, 2021, the parents have not received an update or investigation status since Summer 2020. The lack of care, closure and communication sends a chilling effect through the school community.
We are deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of our children and families. We further request that the district re-examine the annual Title IX training requirements and the district’s Comprehensive Plan of Action for all school staff, children and parents.
It is clear that Dr. Bylaitis' failed leadership has led to categorical missteps by IAMS staff in reporting, confidentiality, and protecting the child and her family.
- - - -
In March 2021, during the first week of reopening and in-person learning amid COVID-19 health pandemic, a parent received an email from the principal, Dr. Daniela Bylaitis. It stated that she needed to be on time and that the school does not have the staff to monitor kids after school and that DCFS will be called. And Bylaitis did just that...called DCFS and effectively opening a child neglect case on a Black mom, a CPS high school teacher.
According to CPS policy: A “neglected child” means any child who is not receiving the proper support, medical or remedial care necessary for the child’s well-being, including adequate food, clothing, or shelter, or a child who is abandoned without a proper plan of care by parents or other persons responsible for the child’s welfare.
This principal failed to follow established CPS policy when she decided to refer the case to DCFS. She made a devastating decision that lacked care, compassion during a historic pandemic. And above all, the application of this policy is perceived to have been extremely biased and unnecessarily heavy-handed. To learn more, here is background information recently reported in the press:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sc98IhcW_Zn-BH...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/09/after-blac...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/24/lakeview-p...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/18/a-10-year-...
Community support is so important to us; sign and share. Thanks in advance!
- - - -
Nosotros, los padres preocupados y la comunidad interesada, de la Escuela Magnet Inter-Americana nos sentimos obligados a presentar esta petición para la destitución inmediata de la directora Dra. Bylaitis por causas justificada
En enero del 2020, cuando Ms. Beatriz Gomez llegó a la escuela para recoger a sus hijos cuando una empleada de la escuela habló en privado con ella y le informó que un empleado de la escuela se había comportado de manera inapropiada con su hija de 5 años. Específicamente, la empleada describió lo que se define en la política de CPS como "preparación" a través de múltiples interacciones con el niño. La directora y el personal no reportaron adecuadamente este incidente a todas las autoridades requeridas. Esto ha dejado a la familia de la niña devastada y traumatizada.
Como muchos casos en CPS con comportamiento inapropiado y contacto físico; esta investigación está plagada de inconsistencias. Hasta la fecha de hoy (8 de abril de 2021), los padres de esta víctima no han recibido una actualización o estado de investigación desde el verano de 2020. La falta de atención, cierre y comunicación ha creado un efecto escalofriante entre nuestra comunidad escolar.
Estamos profundamente preocupados por la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros niños y nuestras familias. Le pedimos al distrito que vuelva a examinar los requisitos de capacitación anual del Título IX y el Plan de Acción Integral del distrito para todo el personal escolar, los niños y los padres.
Está claro que el liderazgo fallido de la Dra. Bylaitis ha dado lugar a errores categóricos por parte del personal de IAMS en la presentación de informes, la confidencialidad y la protección de la niña y su familia.
- - - -
En marzo del 2021, durante la primera semana de reapertura y aprendizaje en persona en medio de la pandemia de salud COVID-19, una madre recibió un correo electrónico de la directora, Dra. Bylaitis. En este correo le amenazó a la madre que tenía que llegar a tiempo para recoger a su hijo y que la escuela no tiene el personal para monitorear a los niños después de que termine la escuela y que se llamaría al DCFS si se llega después de las 4:30 para recoger a sus hijos. Bylaitis hizo precisamente eso ... llamó al departamento de DCFS y abrió efectivamente un caso de negligencia infantil contra una madre negra, maestra de secundaria de CPS.
De acuerdo con la política de CPS: Un "niño abandonado" significa cualquier niño que no esté recibiendo el apoyo adecuado, la atención médica o correctiva necesaria para el bienestar del niño, incluida la comida, la ropa o el refugio adecuados, o un niño que está abandonado sin un plan de cuidado adecuado por parte de los padres u otras personas responsables del bienestar del niño.
Esta directora no siguió la política establecida de CPS cuando decidió remitir el caso al DCFS. Tomó una decisión devastadora que careció de atención y compasión durante una pandemia histórica. Y, sobre todo, la aplicación de esta política ha sido extremadamente sesgada e innecesariamente torpe. Para leer más sobre esta situación aquí hay información de antecedentes recientemente publicada en la prensa:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sc98IhcW_Zn-BH...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/09/after-blac...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/24/lakeview-p...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/18/a-10-year-...
El apoyo de la comunidad es muy importante para nosotros; firmar y compartir. ¡Gracias por adelantado!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
April 10, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
April 9, 2021
April 7, 2021
We are approaching 500 signatures and need to hit this threshold before our scheduled meeting with the district office. Direct this link to five local contacts today so we have the leverage required for our formal request.
126 Comments
Not longer an IAMS parent , but have very serious incidents with her and her admin well documented . Hope school the school community can find a person that fit the chair of this great institution . Respetuosamente . Elías Carmona
The current principal has developed a culture of non-compliance of mandatory reporting to DCFS on situations involving abuse of children. This is illegal and needs to be addressed immediately.
Having failed to provide clear and consistent information regarding the described situations accountability must be inforced through the removal of office. A proper investigation conducted by authorities of all parties should be completed to confirm all cases and hold all parties accountable.
Trust has def been broken. CPS needs to build & grow trust by holding all responsible parties accountable for their reckless actions. This should not be allowed to happen anywhere, much less in a school setting. New leadership is needed in our school community NOW.
What has happened with the parents and students is a travesty and this principal should not have been holding her position as long as she has. Remove the root of the toxic work place and bring an unbiased qualified bilingual educator.
Happy to see she made the appropriate decision and resigned.
Ask the students how popular she was among them and that’ll tell you exactly how she treats African Americans. And even if she treated them generally well, when you’re the minority you really don’t have. Choice but to conform. Welcome to being a minority in good ole America. She got to see what it felt like to have to play by the rules of the African American students and likely had to respect them as she was literally in their neighborhood where their families who loved and cared for them very much would LIVE within close proximity to the parking lot she had to walk to and from at the same time everyday. She was very accessible had she decided to let the prejudice show and offend one of the parents or student to the point they were willing to retaliate in whatever way they saw fit. Tough being mean To someone when you’re in their territory and within reach of the person you’re attempting to abuse or mistreat and the people who love them and will likely go to extremes if they feel they need to in order to protect or defend them and allow them to be happy in their one very short childhood.
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The district finalized the removal of Principal Bylaitis this morning. We are now shifting our focus to monitoring the transition process and ensuring that all mandatory reporting protocols are strictly enforced moving forward.
June 8, 2021
Final supporters
Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Dr. Janice Jackson, Chicago Public Schools CEO
Will Fletcher, Chicago Public Schools Inspector General
Maurice Swinney, Chicago Public Schools Chief Equity Officer
**(para español ver más abajo)**
We, concerned parents and stakeholders, of Inter-American Magnet School feel compelled to submit this petition for the immediate removal of Principal Daniela Bylaitis for cause.
In January 2020, a parent was pulled aside by a school employee and informed that an adult CPS custodian was engaging in inappropriate behavior with her 5 year old daughter. Specifically, the employee described what is defined in CPS policy as "Grooming" across multiple interactions with the child. The principal and staff failed to adequately report this incident to all required authorities. This has left the girl's family devastating and traumatized.
Like many cases in CPS with inappropriate behavior and touching; this investigation is rife with inconsistencies. As of April 8, 2021, the parents have not received an update or investigation status since Summer 2020. The lack of care, closure and communication sends a chilling effect through the school community.
We are deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of our children and families. We further request that the district re-examine the annual Title IX training requirements and the district’s Comprehensive Plan of Action for all school staff, children and parents.
It is clear that Dr. Bylaitis' failed leadership has led to categorical missteps by IAMS staff in reporting, confidentiality, and protecting the child and her family.
- - - -
In March 2021, during the first week of reopening and in-person learning amid COVID-19 health pandemic, a parent received an email from the principal, Dr. Daniela Bylaitis. It stated that she needed to be on time and that the school does not have the staff to monitor kids after school and that DCFS will be called. And Bylaitis did just that...called DCFS and effectively opening a child neglect case on a Black mom, a CPS high school teacher.
According to CPS policy: A “neglected child” means any child who is not receiving the proper support, medical or remedial care necessary for the child’s well-being, including adequate food, clothing, or shelter, or a child who is abandoned without a proper plan of care by parents or other persons responsible for the child’s welfare.
This principal failed to follow established CPS policy when she decided to refer the case to DCFS. She made a devastating decision that lacked care, compassion during a historic pandemic. And above all, the application of this policy is perceived to have been extremely biased and unnecessarily heavy-handed. To learn more, here is background information recently reported in the press:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sc98IhcW_Zn-BH...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/09/after-blac...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/24/lakeview-p...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/18/a-10-year-...
Community support is so important to us; sign and share. Thanks in advance!
- - - -
Nosotros, los padres preocupados y la comunidad interesada, de la Escuela Magnet Inter-Americana nos sentimos obligados a presentar esta petición para la destitución inmediata de la directora Dra. Bylaitis por causas justificada
En enero del 2020, cuando Ms. Beatriz Gomez llegó a la escuela para recoger a sus hijos cuando una empleada de la escuela habló en privado con ella y le informó que un empleado de la escuela se había comportado de manera inapropiada con su hija de 5 años. Específicamente, la empleada describió lo que se define en la política de CPS como "preparación" a través de múltiples interacciones con el niño. La directora y el personal no reportaron adecuadamente este incidente a todas las autoridades requeridas. Esto ha dejado a la familia de la niña devastada y traumatizada.
Como muchos casos en CPS con comportamiento inapropiado y contacto físico; esta investigación está plagada de inconsistencias. Hasta la fecha de hoy (8 de abril de 2021), los padres de esta víctima no han recibido una actualización o estado de investigación desde el verano de 2020. La falta de atención, cierre y comunicación ha creado un efecto escalofriante entre nuestra comunidad escolar.
Estamos profundamente preocupados por la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros niños y nuestras familias. Le pedimos al distrito que vuelva a examinar los requisitos de capacitación anual del Título IX y el Plan de Acción Integral del distrito para todo el personal escolar, los niños y los padres.
Está claro que el liderazgo fallido de la Dra. Bylaitis ha dado lugar a errores categóricos por parte del personal de IAMS en la presentación de informes, la confidencialidad y la protección de la niña y su familia.
- - - -
En marzo del 2021, durante la primera semana de reapertura y aprendizaje en persona en medio de la pandemia de salud COVID-19, una madre recibió un correo electrónico de la directora, Dra. Bylaitis. En este correo le amenazó a la madre que tenía que llegar a tiempo para recoger a su hijo y que la escuela no tiene el personal para monitorear a los niños después de que termine la escuela y que se llamaría al DCFS si se llega después de las 4:30 para recoger a sus hijos. Bylaitis hizo precisamente eso ... llamó al departamento de DCFS y abrió efectivamente un caso de negligencia infantil contra una madre negra, maestra de secundaria de CPS.
De acuerdo con la política de CPS: Un "niño abandonado" significa cualquier niño que no esté recibiendo el apoyo adecuado, la atención médica o correctiva necesaria para el bienestar del niño, incluida la comida, la ropa o el refugio adecuados, o un niño que está abandonado sin un plan de cuidado adecuado por parte de los padres u otras personas responsables del bienestar del niño.
Esta directora no siguió la política establecida de CPS cuando decidió remitir el caso al DCFS. Tomó una decisión devastadora que careció de atención y compasión durante una pandemia histórica. Y, sobre todo, la aplicación de esta política ha sido extremadamente sesgada e innecesariamente torpe. Para leer más sobre esta situación aquí hay información de antecedentes recientemente publicada en la prensa:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sc98IhcW_Zn-BH...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/09/after-blac...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/24/lakeview-p...
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/18/a-10-year-...
El apoyo de la comunidad es muy importante para nosotros; firmar y compartir. ¡Gracias por adelantado!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
April 10, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
April 9, 2021
April 7, 2021
We are approaching 500 signatures and need to hit this threshold before our scheduled meeting with the district office. Direct this link to five local contacts today so we have the leverage required for our formal request.
126 Comments
We demand the principal to be removed immediately! We don't feel safe sending our kids to school anymore. The amount of incidents that the principal has failed to handle correctly is outrageous and if things don't improve we will be removing our kids from the school
Not longer an IAMS parent , but have very serious incidents with her and her admin well documented . Hope school the school community can find a person that fit the chair of this great institution . Respetuosamente . Elías Carmona
The current principal has developed a culture of non-compliance of mandatory reporting to DCFS on situations involving abuse of children. This is illegal and needs to be addressed immediately.
Having failed to provide clear and consistent information regarding the described situations accountability must be inforced through the removal of office. A proper investigation conducted by authorities of all parties should be completed to confirm all cases and hold all parties accountable.
Trust has def been broken. CPS needs to build & grow trust by holding all responsible parties accountable for their reckless actions. This should not be allowed to happen anywhere, much less in a school setting. New leadership is needed in our school community NOW.
What has happened with the parents and students is a travesty and this principal should not have been holding her position as long as she has. Remove the root of the toxic work place and bring an unbiased qualified bilingual educator.
Happy to see she made the appropriate decision and resigned.
Ask the students how popular she was among them and that’ll tell you exactly how she treats African Americans. And even if she treated them generally well, when you’re the minority you really don’t have. Choice but to conform. Welcome to being a minority in good ole America. She got to see what it felt like to have to play by the rules of the African American students and likely had to respect them as she was literally in their neighborhood where their families who loved and cared for them very much would LIVE within close proximity to the parking lot she had to walk to and from at the same time everyday. She was very accessible had she decided to let the prejudice show and offend one of the parents or student to the point they were willing to retaliate in whatever way they saw fit. Tough being mean To someone when you’re in their territory and within reach of the person you’re attempting to abuse or mistreat and the people who love them and will likely go to extremes if they feel they need to in order to protect or defend them and allow them to be happy in their one very short childhood.
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We demand the principal to be removed immediately! We don't feel safe sending our kids to school anymore. The amount of incidents that the principal has failed to handle correctly is outrageous and if things don't improve we will be removing our kids from the school