PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- Two separate incidents of a racist school kids group-chat and a board member criticizing her colleagues while canvassing caused heated debate at the Peoria Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday.

The first incident involved Peoria Township Supervisor LaTrina Leary, a Black woman. She said her son, who goes to Reservoir Gifted School, had received death threats and racist messages from other students in a group chat.

While overwhelmed with emotions, Leary described the messages. She said when her son wrote in the group chat "this chat is dead," another student responded with "soon you will be too."

"Another student said, ooh, I want to be there, they wanted to witness the unaliving on my son," she said. "Another student posted a picture of a monkey."

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