A photo taken during a Niles High School history class led to an apology from the school district Friday.

According to the media statement released by the school district’s public relations firm, students in the history class were assigned to depict an issue in America’s history. One group of students addressed the issue of racism, and students brought props and costumes depicting the Ku Klux Klan.

The media release reads as follows:

“While reenacting a series of educational skits for a U.S. history class, one group of Niles High School students chose to explore topics related to racism. As part of their in class skit, they included props and costumes set during specific decades. The inclusion of these props and costumes was highly inappropriate and insensitive. An investigation into the approval process for the skits and related classroom oversight is underway.

Niles Community Schools and Niles High School understands the extreme sensitivity around this issue and does not condone or support this type of reenactment. Niles High School administration is committed to supporting diversity and fostering an environment to encourage future student success. We sincerely apologize to our entire community for this incident.”