Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Chaplaincy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenter urges Tyler ISD to consider school chaplain program under Texas Chaplaincy Act
Summary
A certified school chaplain urged the board to review a chaplaincy program enabled by the Texas Chaplaincy Act (Senate Bill 763); the comment was a public request and no board action was taken.
Scottie Wallace, identifying himself as a certified chaplain with the National School Chaplains Association for East Texas, spoke during the public comment period and asked the board to consider a volunteer and hired chaplain program for PK–12 campuses. Wallace referenced the Texas Chaplaincy Act, Senate Bill 763, signed June 18, 2023, and left an informational packet for the superintendent and board president.
Wallace described chaplain duties in general terms and said they provide “emotional and mental health support,” character education, crisis care and pastoral presence, community-building, and support for staff. He emphasized that, in his description, chaplains are not there to proselytize but to offer spiritual and emotional care “to people of all faiths and culture.” Wallace offered to assist the district in exploring what a chaplaincy program might look like.
Board members took no formal action during the public comment period; the speaker left informational materials with the superintendent and board president to review.
Transcript excerpt: Wallace said the statute "allows school districts to hire or allow volunteer school chaplains on all PK through 12 school campuses they so desire," and he told trustees he would leave an ISD packet for their review.
