School district investigates racial slurs etched in note at Highland school

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Saturday, August 29, 2015
School district investigates racial slurs etched in note at Highland school
A San Bernardino school district is investigating an offensive note posted in the staff room of Lankershim Elementary School in Highland in mid-August.

HIGHLAND, Calif. (KABC) -- A San Bernardino school district is investigating an offensive note posted in the staff room of Lankershim Elementary School in Highland.

The note, which was found on Aug. 18, said a racial slur and referred to weekly meetings held by Principal Crecia Sims, who is black. There were also anonymous comments on a year-end school survey that said the school did not need a black principal.

Sims is in her second year as head of the school.

Teresa Sharber is a nurse at the school and said it hurt her to hear about the racially-charged comments against Sims.

"It broke my heart. She's a sweetheart, and I'm sure her skin is thick. Mine is. I mean, she earned that, she got it by right. She's a beautiful person," Sharber said.

In a written statement to Eyewitness News, a San Bernardino City Unified School District spokesperson said an investigation by the district's affirmative action office and school police department is underway.