School partners with TPUSA after rejecting student chapter request

A Wisconsin school has announced plans to partner with Turning Point USA (TPUSA) after facing backlash for rejecting a student’s attempt to start a class.

“We will work closely with TPUSA to flesh out the details as we create something new together,” Margaret Hagedorn, director of the Lake Country Classical Academy (LCCA), told Fox News Digital.

LCCA’s rejection of the club caused backlash from Melissa Smiley, the mother of a student who wanted to start a TPUSA chapter, and other parents, prompting former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, an emeritus LCCA board member and Turning Point Action staffer, to denounce the decision.

Katie Smiley, a 17-year-old student at LCCA, was motivated to join the momentum of Turning Point USA chapters growing across the country in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death. Her mother, Melissa, a mother of three at LCCA, wrote a letter to the LCCA board expressing her “frustration” about the dismissal denial.

Katie Smiley, a junior at Hillsdale College’s Lake Country Classical Academy (LCCA), was motivated to join the momentum of Turning Point USA chapters growing across the country in the wake of Kirk’s death. (Turning Point USA)

A high school student inspired by the work of Charlie Kirk is motivated to start a turning point chapter in the USA

Hagedorn sent a letter explaining to Melissa and other concerned parents why the dismissal was denied, citing a policy prohibiting political organizations and clubs at the school.

Hagedorn said the LCCA had not refused to fire TPUSA due to political viewpoint discrimination and that any notion suggesting that was “completely false.”

“We have made clear our devotion to the Hillsdale model and curriculum. After good discussions with TPUSA, we have agreed to create a school-sanctioned civics club that will enhance students’ civic practice and complement the hard work we do here within the parameters of the school’s own policies,” Hagedorn told Fox News Digital.

The LCCA has not approved student clubs affiliated with outside political or religious organizations since its inception. This policy is reflected in Hillsdale’s guidelines and family handbook, which “refer to extracurricular clubs as ‘enrichment classes.'”

LCCA is a member school of Hillsdale College and is more closely associated with Hillsdale College than the Hillsdale Schools for its curriculum. Member schools receive Hillsdale College decidedand consulting and training from the Hillsdale K-12 Office of Education.

The board wrote another letter to parents, saying they are “in close consultation with our internal and external resources.”

“After discussion, we have concluded that our current policy requires further review to enhance clarity. The review and approval process, to the extent required, will take some time to complete,” the letter continued.

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“We have found a way forward to work closely with TPUSA to advance our shared goals. We are pleased that TPUSA and Governor Scott Walker are on board with our approach,” Hagedorn told Fox News Digital.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, an emeritus member of the LCCA Board of Directors and a Turning Point Action staff member, previously denounced the decision to reject a student’s bid to start a TPUSA chapter. (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

LCCA needed to figure out how to move forward with having TPUSA that aligned with school policy.

“After Katie’s initial meeting with the assistant principal who oversees operations at the upper school, the question was how to strengthen TPUSA’s presence at LCCA within our existing school policies. We needed to work with Hillsdale and TPSA to figure out the path forward, and that’s exactly what we did. That came on Tuesday, and I communicated that to the students extensively on Wednesday,” Hagedorn said.

Walker, who previously The school was criticized for its refusal The TPUSA chapter, now applauds the effort.

“I’m glad to hear that Turning Point USA and Lake Country Classical Academy are working together so conservative students can have a voice on their campus,” Walker told Fox News Digital.

Melissa told Fox News Digital that she felt the school’s decision to create a civics club instead of a TPUSA chapter had created confusion among some parents, as first reported by Wisconsin now.

Florida pledges legal action against any efforts to ban TPUSA chapters on campus

“I feel like this is another blatant example of chronic leadership issues within the school that parents have been trying to address for four years, and the board is complicit in the continued suppression of growth and leadership opportunities for students. It’s literally the antithesis of Charlie Kirk’s entire framework,” Melissa told Fox News Digital.

At the LCCA board meeting, Wisconsin-based TPUSA leader Brett Galaszewski It is said He told the board that Kirk’s “dream” was to have a chapter in every school in the United States.

“My request is Charlie’s request…the board can make it happen and make Charlie’s dream come true,” Galashevsky told the LCCA board.

Hagedorn told Fox News Digital that she will meet with Katie, who took the initiative to start the TPUSA chapter, as the school works out details regarding the nature of its partnership with the organization.

LCCA’s partnership with TPUSA underscores the organization’s growth in the wake of Kirk’s death. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

“I will be meeting with Katie, our other interested students, and the faculty advisor on Monday when everyone returns to school after fall break to figure out next steps,” Hagedorn said.

“We understand and respect that everyone may not agree, but we also received a lot of positive feedback and appreciation for discovering a creative solution,” she continued. “Turning Point and our school share many of the same goals. Civic engagement is critical to our school, and we are excited to work with TPUSA,” Hagedorn said.

Nick Coca, director of TPUSA’s Club America Foundation, praised Hagedorn’s efforts to form a partnership with TPUSA on Tuesday.

“We are working together to create a student-led group that is fully aligned with existing school policies. I am excited to build a long-term @TPUSA partnership!” Coke wrote on X.

since then Kirk is assassinatedHis organization has grown and received tremendous support. After Kirk’s huge memorial service On September 13, TPUSA announced that it had received more than 120,000 inquiries from people wanting to start new chapters on campus.

Kirk, who would have turned 32 on Tuesday, received a posthumous Oscar Presidential Medal of Freedom In the White House.

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Katie’s efforts to start a TPUSA chapter and LCCA’s partnership with TPUSA underscore the organization’s growth in the wake of Kirk’s death.

“I was very impressed with Charlie’s work,” Melissa said. “She’s actually been involved for a long time, going to different events for young Americans all over college campuses.” Fox News Digital.