A father is suing a Chicago charter school principal for allegedly interfering with his parental rights and facilitating fraudulent enrollment. Raul Vasquez filed the complaint in the Northern District of Illinois on September 16, 2024, against Kory T. Kliebert, the principal of CICS Bucktown.
According to the complaint, Vasquez's soon-to-be ex-wife, Jenniffer Barrientos, enrolled their daughter at CICS Bucktown despite not residing within Chicago city limits, violating the school's residency rules. Vasquez claims he informed the school about this fraudulent enrollment on August 21, 2023, but the school dismissed it as a "custody matter" and failed to investigate properly. On June 3, 2024, Vasquez sent a cease-and-desist letter to Kliebert demanding an end to these actions and an investigation into the enrollment fraud. However, instead of complying, Kliebert allegedly continued his unlawful conduct by facilitating programs that conflicted with Vasquez's parenting time and supported Barrientos' custody strategy.
Vasquez accuses Kliebert of orchestrating various school programs like "Right at School" summer program and extending the school year to June 7, 2024, to manipulate custody determinations in favor of Barrientos. He also alleges that Kliebert used other agents and proprietary communication systems to retaliate against him for raising these issues. For instance, on August 12, 2024, Ms. Camacho announced a summer camp starting on August 28 as part of this scheme.
The complaint further details how Kliebert facilitated an "enrollment event" on August 19, 2024, after receiving a draft of the lawsuit from Vasquez's law firm. This event was allegedly designed to obscure the requested residency investigation and bolster Barrientos' legal position in their divorce proceedings. On August 22 and August 23, Kliebert organized additional programs like a Domino’s incentive program and variations of before-and-after care programs that restricted Vasquez's parenting time.
Vasquez seeks several forms of relief from the court: an order directing Kliebert to cease all actions interfering with his parental rights; a thorough investigation into the fraudulent enrollment; amendments to any inaccurate school records regarding his daughter's residency status; prohibition against any retaliatory actions; compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses; and any further relief deemed just by the court.
The case is presided over by Judge Edmond E. Chang and Judge Beth W. Jantz under Case ID: 1:24-cv-08489.