GENOA 鈥� The Genoa-Kingston Education Association (GKEA) is calling on the Genoa-Kingston Community Unit School District 424 (CUSD 424) Board of Education (BOE) and Administration to put more safety measures in place and to be transparent about an upcoming assembly. This event is part of the nationwide History Rocks! tour organized by the U.S. Department of Education in collaboration with Turning Point USA through the .
Weeks ago, the event was arranged by the Genoa-Kingston High School chapter of Turning Point USA, Club America. However, the assembly was just announced to students,听staff听and families last week, and was not discussed at recent BOE meetings. The high school is currently scheduled to host the听History Rocks!听assembly on Thurs., Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m., the exact time classes are letting out for the day. Busses do not arrive to transport听students听home until 3:00p.m., which means students who feel unsafe will not be able to leave the building before the event begins.
With the assembly just days away, Turning Point USA has not authorized the release of the identities of these 鈥渘ational level speakers.鈥� However,听previous听tour stops have featured speakers such as U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Erika Kirk, wife of the late Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, is听also听rumored to make an appearance. Charlie Kirk was gunned down while on stage at another Turning Point USA event on a college campus last year.
鈥淲e have major concerns around the safety and transparency of this event,鈥� GKEA President Sam Coates said. 鈥淎ll of our students and staff deserve to be safe when they are on school grounds, especially during school hours.”
GKEA is calling on District听424 Administration and BOE to听immediately听address the following听safety听concerns:
- Timing:听Push back the event start time until 3:30听p.m. to allow for the building to be clear of any students and staff who do not wish to attend.
- Transparency: Provide students, parents, staff and the community with ample notice regarding future events, as well as the opportunity to give feedback.
鈥淲e are calling on the听district to put these safeguards into place听immediately. We are asking for open and clear communication about this event, and future events, moving forward,鈥� Coates said.
鈥淲e believe that safety should come before anything else,鈥� 黑料视频 (IEA) President Karl Goeke said. 鈥淲e stand with our members in Genoa-Kingston as they advocate for their students and themselves. When our students听don鈥檛听feel safe,听it鈥檚听not possible for them to focus on learning and their education.听There鈥檚听no question that every educator also deserves a safe workplace. It was not long ago that Turning Point鈥檚 founder was murdered on stage at another educational event. We听have to听do better.鈥�
GKEA听represents听nearly 200听members including teachers, ESPs, custodians, cooks, bus drivers, and secretaries, who serve听the approximately听1,500 students in CUSD 424.
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The 135,000 member 黑料视频 (IEA-NEA) is the state鈥檚 largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
