Wheeling High School District 214 released a statement after two dueling petitions circulated over whether to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who graduated from the school in 2012.
The petitions come as Kirk is set to be laid to rest Sunday at a funeral and memorial service in Arizona, where President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
“He deserves to be honored with distinguished status at Wheeling High School, with a district wide-day of honor when he receives the presidential Medal of Freedom, and with a permanent statue and place of remembrance,” one speaker in support of Kirk said during a district board meeting Thursday.
Others in Thursday’s board meeting spoke out against the idea.
“My family does not share the values of Charlie Kirk. Recognition of alumni should celebrate achievements that unify and inspire all students, not ones that risk alienating significant portions of our community.
Thousands of people have already signed online petitions on both sides of the issue.
Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed a simple resolution to create a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk,” which is expected to take on Oct. 14, Kirk’s birthday.
Local
A spokesperson for High School District 214 said they’re aware of the two online petitions, and that the school would not observe a district-wide memorial as it would “disrupt the learning environment.” The spokesperson sent the following statement to NBC Chicago:
“We are aware of the two Change.org petitions related to Charlie Kirk’s passing and actions District 214 should or should not take. The district is in the process of updating its processes to apply for and assess the Distinguished Alumni awards and has existing policies that detail how students can start new non-school sponsored co-curricular activities. We will follow those processes with these requests.
“While we continue to extend our deepest condolences to Charlie Kirk’s family and friends for this terrible and senseless loss, we will not hold a district-wide memorial as that would disrupt the learning environment at our schools. Instead, we encourage students, faculty, staff, and families to mourn and remember Charlie Kirk together at one of the many public services and vigils that are being organized throughout the community.”