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BROKEN BY WGIL: GHS Teacher Investigated for Alleged Racist Remarks Caught on Tape
POSTED 3:20pm, UPDATED 4:11pm 5/12/11 A Galesburg School District teacher is accused of making potentially racist remarks in class that appeared on the internet site YouTube.

The video in question, taken by a student, picks up after, sources say, the Galesburg High School teacher threatened to "hang" an African-American student next to her, where she makes other alleged racist remarks.

District-205 Human Resources Director Diane VanHootegem says the teacher she declines to identify but whom sources say is English teacher Rona Gutzky, walked out of Galesburg High School on her own Thursday, and tells WGIL there's not much she can say at this point.

"No decisions, of course, will be made until that investigation is complete," VanHootegem said. "And then, the district can disclose more of an official statement in regards to this matter. Certainly, if the behavior occurred, it's not condoned by anyone -- administration, or the school district, or the school board."

But VanHootegem says the investigation will be done as fairly as can be.

She also says the student who shot the video will later be investigated, because cell phones are only allowed before and after school, and not during class. It is also illegal to record someone without their consent.

The Galesburg Education Association is declining to comment on this story, and attempts to contact Gutzky were unsuccessful.

STAY WITH WGIL AND WGIL.COM FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS STORY.
05 12 11 by Newsroom
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