Jason Baker is the volunteer head varsity football coach at Potterville High School, and he was recently elected to the school board. However, in a strange turn of events from his history of leadership, the school district has informed him that he will need to ask permission to attend school events, speak with football players or handle district property.
There is an ongoing criminal probe into the district’s finances, but it was not made clear to Baker if this investigation is the reason for his directive. He received a letter from Sam Sinicropi, superintendent, that he has declined to share publicly until he can speak with an attorney.
The Lansing State Journal reported that Barker, “isn't sure how the restrictions will impact him as an elected official. For now, he said he has to ask permission to attend his son's basketball games in the district.”
Baker said the letter, “spells out that he cannot make any purchases on behalf of the district, speak to any current or prospective football players or destroy any communications, information or files related to the district.”
Baker has also been told he “is to not represent himself as affiliated with Potterville Public Schools, the athletics department, or other parts of the district to ‘third parties.’”
In the letter, Baker says he was also asked to return any keys or district property that are in his possession, but he told WLNS News that he does not have any district keys or property to return.
As for the financial investigation within the district, superintendent Sinicropi has not made any numbers public. According to the Lansing State Journal, one record of the general funds budget estimated the district’s fund balance as “about $1.4 million” on June 30, but other budget documents say, “the district’s fund balance was $71,896 on June 30, a difference of more than $1.3 million.”
For now, Baker remains listed as the head football coach for Potterville High School.
