VISTA -- School officials in Vista were set to vote late Thursday on a proposal to declare June 1 Carrie Prejean Day in the district, in honor of the Vista High School graduate and Miss USA runner-up thrust into the spotlight last month with her response to a question about same-sex marriage.

Hundreds of people packed the multipurpose room at Foothill Oak Elementary School for the meeting, many waiting late into the evening to speak for or against the idea.

The board discussed numerous other matters on its lengthy agenda before it reached the Prejean proposal about 11 p.m.

"Carrie Prejean is not a spokesperson for traditional marriage," said one of the first speakers on the issue, Jill Parvin, a parent in the district who has frequently sided with Gibson. "She is a former student with the courage to speak her mind."

An opposing view was presented by Evelyn Thomas, director of education and youth services for the North County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender Coalition in Oceanside.

"It is wrong to teach bigotry and discrimination," Thomas told the board. "The reality is, students -- your students -- are part of nontraditional families."

The discussion was expected to continue until well past midnight before any decision.

Trustee Jim Gibson proposed the proclamation, calling Prejean an "exemplary student leader" who "showed integrity, leadership, dedication and high moral standards" in the Miss California and Miss USA pageants.

"Carrie Prejean has proven to be a positive example to Vista students of what great things can be accomplished with natural talent, hard work and dedication," the proclamation states.

It was unclear whether any other Vista Unified trustees would support the idea.

Some have said the district hasn't honored former students in such a way in the past and shouldn't start now.

The 21-year-old Prejean, a 2005 graduate, has said she was thrilled with the recognition.

Teachers and administrators at the school have said she was an active and involved student, serving as president of the Associated Student Body, playing varsity basketball, and joining the school's Christian club.

Since she answered a judge's question at the Miss USA pageant by saying she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, Prejean has become a spokeswoman for the traditional marriage movement, appearing on television and radio programs and as a guest at local churches. Â

There also has been plenty of controversy.

State pageant officials have publicly questioned whether Prejean should be stripped of her title for making those appearances, and for allegedly shirking her Miss California responsibilities and failing to let them know about revealing photographs that have since surfaced.

Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA pageant, decided earlier this week that Prejean can keep her Miss California crown.

Gibson, a conservative Christian, has a history of bringing hot topics before the board, including Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriage in California.

He said the proclamation idea wasn't political, although he thought other people could take it that way.

Contact Stacy Brandt at 760-901-4009.