North Cook News

At a heated Township High School District 214 board meeting the day after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, community member John Saletta delivered an emotional plea demanding the restoration of a plaque honoring the conservative activist removed in 2020. 

Speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, Saletta addressed the school board with a statement that drew applause from attendees. 

“I'm shocked that Charlie Kirk's plaque would be removed from the wall of notable alumni and it happened apparently in the middle of the night as these things tend to happen quietly without anybody noticing,” Saletta told District 214 school board members. “It's frankly shameful.”

He didn’t stop there. Saletta demanded the district take immediate action to reverse the removal.

“I don't think it's appropriate that his plaque be removed,” Saletta said. “I think it should be restored. I think he should be honored. He is going to receive The Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor this country can bestow upon somebody. And frankly, I think an explanation would be owed if he wasn't restored to that wall of notable alumni.” 

Then, Saletta offered his own tribute to Kirk’s legacy.

“Charlie Kirk tried to build bridges between people and he did it using his intellect and reason and a quiet voice,” he said. “And he should be honored for that. Whether you choose to believe what he said or not or whether you choose to cross that bridge and join him or stay on your side, that's not the point. The point was he tried to peacefully build bridges between people.” 

Saletta's comments came as President Donald Trump announced he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, following Kirk’s assassination.

District 214 shared a statement in response to an inquiry by North Cook News, noting that the so-called “plaque” had been displayed for 15 years as part of a campaign recognizing a broader selection of alumni. 

Officials confirmed it had been removed in 2020. 

"Charlie Kirk was not previously named a Distinguished Alumni from Wheeling High School,” the statement reads. “From 2005 - 2020, there was a 'Where Are They Now' campaign that included his picture with numerous other alumni to highlight the district’s career pathways program. The photos were on foam boards and had deteriorated over time. That program ended when the district underwent a full rebranding campaign, and all alumni photos were removed." 

District officials also noted that Kirk was not previously named a Distinguished Alumni and that the district is updating its nomination process to establish a uniform procedure by January 2026.

Despite calls to do so, District 214 said it will not hold a district-wide remembrance for Kirk.

“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,” the statement reads. “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.” 

Kirk graduated from Wheeling High School in 2012 and was briefly hired by the district in 2013 to assist with the basketball program. The co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA began his political activism at Wheeling High School. 

At just 18, he launched Turning Point USA from a garage in Lemont. What started as a small local effort quickly grew into a nationwide movement, and by 2025, Turning Point USA had over 3,500 high school and college chapters across the country, including major universities in Illinois. 

Operating with a $92 million annual budget and close ties to national conservative figures, including President Trump, Kirk maintained his Illinois roots while mobilizing youth activism on a national scale until his assassination.

Wheeling is one of six high schools in Township High School District 214, which serves over 11,000 students across Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.

The district’s decision not to hold a district-wide memorial comes amid a growing debate over two opposing online petitions.

A petition titled “Petition to Honor Charlie Kirk and Foster Inclusive Education in High School D214” has garnered more than 2,600 signatures. 

It calls for a district-wide “Charlie Kirk Day of Honor,” the reinstatement of any removed honors, approval of Turning Point USA student chapters, and recognition of Kirk’s upcoming posthumous Medal of Freedom. 

In contrast, a counter-petition with over 1,100 signatures argues that honoring Kirk at the district level would politicize school spaces and alienate students.

Ironically, in 2023 Wheeling High School was named an Illinois Democracy School, a designation given to institutions that promote civic engagement, dialogue and student participation in democratic processes. 

At the time, former Principal Dr. Bradford Hubbard praised the program’s impact, stating it encourages students. 

"Regardless of whether they're talking about current or controversial topics, this emphasis gives our students the skills to state their beliefs and encourages the idea of open dialogue and hearing perspectives different from their own," he said, according to the Daily Herald.