Lake Washington School District Reviews Employee Over Viral Charlie Kirk Death Remark
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 30
Lake Washington School District Reviews Employee Over Viral Charlie Kirk Death Remark
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 30
Summary
Lake Washington School District said Wednesday it opened a review after a viral video showed a staff member saying, "Thank God he's dead," about Charlie Kirk.
The woman was identified online as Eastlake High School nurse Kelsey Ballin; the clip, reportedly filmed at a farmer's market, also showed mocking gestures toward people wearing Kirk "Freedom" shirts.
The district said community members had raised concerns and stressed the remarks do not reflect its values, while declining to discuss personnel details during the ongoing review.
Lake Washington, which serves Eastlake High in Sammamish, pointed to employee conduct and social-media policies as it weighs the case against staff members' rights as private citizens.
The backlash comes after Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder, was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Utah.
What facts must Lake Washington School District establish before deciding whether a viral market video warrants discipline for a student-facing employee?
When a school nurse’s off-duty viral remark sparks outrage, where should a district draw the line between private speech and public trust?