Questions about school’s policy on clubs arise but guidelines being followed

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Reactions to recent political events have reached Worcester County, where students at Stephen Decatur High School have kick-started a conservative thought-based group.

According to an Instagram post from last month, some SDHS students have conducted their first meeting of a new chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a club that, according to its website, aims to promote conservative values through activities, campaigns and open dialogue.

The social media picture, which shows around seven members at a Panera Bread, was posted by the mother of two boys who started the group. The parent did not respond to a request for comment.

Turning Point USA was the brainchild of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative and debater who was shot and killed on Sept. 10 during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was conversing with an attendee as part of his “Prove me Wrong” segment when the assassination took place.

The murder has been labeled as an act of political violence, sparking outrage and furthering the tumultuous tension on both sides of the aisle. The incident has also led to an increased interest in Kirk’s organization. According to a Sept. 18 report by Fortune, TPUSA has received approximately 60,000 inquiries for new chapters for high school and college campuses.

One of these branches has made its way to Worcester County, where high school students have become involved, starting a non-school-sanctioned club to promote their right-leaning beliefs.

The news of an SDHS TPUSA chapter has initiated a passionate response from the community on social media, particularly in regard to a post by Worcester County Board of Education member Katie Addis, who, after being reached out to by a parent of the group asking if any staff member could advise the club, took to Facebook to seek an interested teacher publicly.

However, despite allegations that it was Addis who initiated the group’s formation, the board member maintained that she takes no credit for getting the club off the ground. She said that she simply commented at a board meeting after Kirk’s passing, urging students to “keep Kirk’s legacy alive.” She adds that the group of students had submitted an application to the TPUSA chapter even before Kirk’s assassination.

“Less than a week later, I saw a post on Facebook saying the TPUSA high school chapter at Decatur was official, and the first meeting was a success,” she said. “… At no point did the actual members reach out to me for assistance.”

Addis said that she let the parent who had reached out to her know that she would see what she could do to get an advisor.

“I then took to my personal Facebook page, asking publicly for any willing and able teachers to consider being an advisor for this group,” she noted. “A teacher was confirmed two days later. This is the extent of the involvement I’ve had with this group.”

Addis’ social media post from last month seeking a faculty member to oversee the club reads, “I’m excited to reach out and discover if anyone knows any teachers at Stephen Decatur High School who would be passionate about being an advisor to a newly established TPUSA high school chapter. The students are eager to launch initiatives and host local events, and with the right advisor, they’ll be empowered to make a meaningful impact. If you know someone who would be an ideal fit, please don’t hesitate to connect us. Together, we can inspire positive change and nurture the next generation of leaders.”

Decatur’s TPUSA chapter is not school-sanctioned, officials say.  However, if it meets specific criteria, the club would be allowed to meet on school property during Out-Of-School-Time (OST).

This criterion, as outlined by Worcester County Public Schools’ protocol for student-led organizations that meet during OST, reads, “to ensure consistency, transparency, and alignment with federal and state guidelines, all religious or political clubs within Worcester County Public Schools’ OST program must operate under [certain] principles.”

For instance, according to Carrie Sterrs, WCPS’s coordinator for public relations and special programs, “requests to form the clubs must come from interested students, not outside organizations or adults,” and “the purpose and activities of the club should reflect the students’ genuine interests.”

The organization must also be student-led. Meaning, gatherings are to be directed by students, and outside adults may only provide occasional support as guests. Adults cannot lead or run the club.

Sterrs cited the school system’s criteria for OST clubs further, explaining that “each club must have a WCPS staff member who serves as the school-based advisor,” and that “the advisor’s role is supervisory, ensuring compliance with school policies and maintaining a safe environment.” Advisors are also not to lead religious or political activities. However, they should be present to support and oversee. Parent permission slips that outline the nature, activities, and purpose of the club must be signed.

Sterrs said that regarding the TPUSA organization at Decatur, “should the chapter meet the criteria above, it would be allowed to meet on school property during OST.”

Sterrs noted that she is aware of a staff member who has expressed an interest in acting as the group’s advisor. The name of that faculty member has not been made public.

Turning Point USA has over 1,000 chapters on high school campuses across the nation. The organization’s website says that, “TPUSA High School is energizing a new generation of pro-America patriots.”

Sterrs added that to operate, even as a club that meets on school property during OST, the organization requires a high school chapter charter.