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Conroe ISD delays posting of Ten Commandments posters after legal counsel advises waiting for federal ruling
Summary
Following public comment from both supporters and opponents, the Conroe ISD board's legal counsel advised trustees not to install Ten Commandments posters while a federal judge considers related litigation; trustees did not proceed with posting at the meeting.
Conroe ISD trustees heard a wide range of public comment Tuesday about Senate Bill 10, the Texas law that requires school districts to make the text of the Ten Commandments available in public classrooms. After presentations by community donors who offered to supply posters and parents who opposed the requirement, district legal counsel recommended the board delay installing the posters while a federal judge decides a pending case.
The issue drew several speakers on both sides. Rebecca Smith, representing a coalition of local groups including Love Hills Youth and The Woodlands Republican Women, told the board her group was donating 330 legally compliant posters for classrooms at no cost to the district. "We are donating 330 posters to Conroe ISD at no cost to the district or taxpayers," Smith said, describing the posters as "verbatim King James version text, proper size, visibility, and durability for classroom display." Other speakers urged the board to wait because litigation challenging SB 10 is pending, and some parents sought the right to opt their children out of classroom displays.
After discussion, the board's legal advisor, Miss Beaulieu, told trustees a federal judge in Texas had indicated an imminent ruling in litigation that could affect the law's implementation. "Therefore, I would recommend that the signs not be placed up at this time, awaiting the judge's final order or ruling," she said.
Why it matters: Senate Bill 10 requires districts to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms in a form that complies with the statute; multiple districts around the state have faced litigation testing the law's constitutionality. The trustee-level decision to wait follows standard legal caution when a court is close to issuing a controlling opinion.
What happened in public comment: - Supporters argued the posters promote character and reflect the state law's requirements. "Our prayer is that these posters not only inspire hope in students but also encourage them to bring their questions home," Rebecca Smith said during her remarks. - Opponents argued the poster requirement raises First Amendment concerns and that the district should wait for court rulings; some parents asked for simple opt-out processes or alternate secular lessons in classrooms where the content appears.
Board action: Trustees did not direct staff to install posters during the meeting. After the legal recommendation to await the court's decision, the board took no further action on installation and left the issue pending.
Sources and attribution - Rebecca Smith (donor coalition representative) - Amanda Causey and other parents (public comment) - Miss Beaulieu (district legal counsel)
Ending The board will revisit the question once the federal court issues a final ruling or provides formal guidance; for now the district will not place Ten Commandments posters in classrooms pending the judge's decision.
