Pacheco Union School District administrators announced they’ve placed one of their staff on administrative leave after the person made statements on social media concerning the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“I want to assure you that this post does not reflect the values, beliefs, or mission of our school or district,” Superintendent Jakob Fuller said in a statement to students’ families on Thursday that promised the Redding school district’s administrators would address the matter. “At Pacheco, we are deeply committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for every student, staff member, and family,” Fuller said in the statement.
He went on to say the killing of Kirk was “heartbreaking,” and that such incidents are a reminder of “the importance of compassion, unity, and standing firmly against violence of any kind. Leaders from across the political spectrum have made it clear that violence has no place in our nation” and Pacheco school “district strongly condemns violence and stands for peace, respect, and community,” Fuller said in the statement issued Thursday, the day after Kirk’s death.
Administrators posted an update Thursday evening in which Fuller said the staff member was placed on administrative leave and that he was “taking this matter very seriously.”
He also explained in the update that issues dealing with school personnel were confidential, and that the school is working with the district’s legal counsel and union representatives to decide what to do next.
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A call to the Pacheco School District wasn’t immediately returned Friday morning.
Kirk, age 31, died from a single gunshot on Wednesday, Sept. 10, during a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Part of the Trump administration supporter’s American Comeback Tour, Kirk was answering an audience member’s question about mass shootings when the bullet struck him in his neck.
Since the shooting, schools officials across the country have been dealing with fallout from what they say are inflammatory posts about Kirk’s death on staff members’ personal social media accounts.
Florida’s Department of Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced Thursday that districts will punish public school teachers who post comments approving of Kirk’s death.
An Iowa school district is seeking approval from its board to fire a teacher accused of making a controversial social media post about Kirk, and local news outlets reported related incidents in Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Carolina and other states.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Pacheco School employee on leave after Charlie Kirk shooting statement