School Board Wrestles with Prayer Policy, Aiming to Avoid Lawsuit
CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC — Cleveland County School Board members discussed a controversial prayer policy proposal Monday night.
For nearly a month, the school district attorney has been crafting a policy that would allow people to pray, but won’t end in a lawsuit for discrimination.
When the board asked the crowd to begin the meeting Monday evening with the usual moment of silence, a group stood up and said the Lord’s Prayer.
Residents on both sides of the debate made their stance known.
“That’s not how the Bible tells you to pray,” said Tony Brown, Director of Foothill Interfaith Assembly. “It specifically says don’t make a show of your prayer, and that was nothing but a show.”
“I think there’s a time to pray to yourself and a time to pray out loud,” said Sgt. Rodney Fitch.
Sgt. Fitch is part of the Cleveland County Christian Law Enforcement Association, the group that pressed the board to start meetings with prayer.
However, the board knows that can end in a legal battle paid for by taxpayers.
In Rowan County, the American Civil Liberties Union won a lawsuit against county commissioners who asked the public to join in Christian prayer. The county is appealing that decision.
To see that report, click here.
The Cleveland County School Board’s proposal says any religious leader whose congregation meets in Cleveland County could pick a meeting day to pray, and no one has to join the prayer.
30 days before the policy goes into effect, the Superintendent would release information in the local paper on how to sign up to pray.
To see the entire policy, click here.
Still, the American Civil Liberties Union Legal Director says since it would take place at a school meeting, a court would likely find it unconstitutional.
“That is because courts are, they’re very skeptical and very concerned about prayer practices that would expose children to potential coercion,” said ACLU Legal Director Chris Brook.
Board members debated banning students from school board meetings in fear of what they might hear.
They took back that suggestion.
They did ask the attorney to add a time limit on prayers in the policy. They also want the policy to include a back up plan if a prayer leader didn’t show up on their scheduled day. Finally, they want to allow groups to sign up to pray more than once if all slots are not filled.
Some board members want to postpone the vote until newly elected members take office in December. Catching them up on public comments and policy could drag the vote out until 2016.
“Our main goal is to make sure we give quality education to our students, and this is taking considerable amount of time,” said boar Chair Phillip Glover.
“The communication is flowing back and forth between the community and the school board, and I think that’s a great thing,” said Sgt. Fitch.
“Maybe they’re just treading cautiously,” said Brown.
The board is scheduled to vote on whether to accept the policy with Monday’s changes on November 23. They could table the vote and decide at a later time.
