MARION, IL (WSIL) -- The Marion Unit 2 Board of Education held a special meeting Wednesday evening to determine disciplinary actions regarding high school teacher and track coach Sara Baker.
Baker is accused of making comments deemed to be insensitive and racist to a black student on the track team.
School board president Joe Bleyer laid out the findings of the district's investigation into the allegations.
According to Bleyer, these are the three key facts confirmed through an extensive investigation by the district:
- Baker mentioned the words "third world" and "Africa" in the presence of two track members but never mentioned the word "Black."
- The comments were not made in a laughing matter or a group setting where anyone was trying to belittle or make fun.
- The track member was never asked to turn in her uniform and was not removed from the track team. She was encouraged to continue participating.
Following several comments from students, the board passed a notice of remedial warning against Baker, identifying unsatisfactory conduct, which if repeated, could lead to dismissal.
Baker is also required to complete equity, diversity and inclusion training as required by the administration.
She resigned as the high school girls track coach, effective immediately, and will remain on paid administrative leave through the rest of the school year, which ends June 1.
For the 2021-22 school year, Baker will be reassigned to Adams School as a physical education teacher.
In the wake of the allegations against Baker, , some calling for her to be fired.
One of those protestors, Darlene Roper, tells News 3 the school board's decision is a victory for current and future students.
"It wasn't necessarily about firing her," said Roper. "It was holding her accountable. We're not going to sweep under the rug what she said, it was holding her accountable for what she said."
Roper says the decision is also a victory for those whose stories have gone unheard.
"Let's not forget how brave she was for telling her story. She was brave for telling her story and then she gets all this backlash for telling her story. I told my story and my story was dismissed. So I'm proud of her."
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