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Residents urge school board not to adopt invocation policy, call for moment of silence instead
Summary
Two public commenters told the Brevard school board they oppose a proposed invocation policy for board meetings and urged the district to keep meetings neutral — suggesting a moment of silence as an inclusive alternative; one commenter also raised concerns about personnel and student privacy rules.
Two members of the public used the meeting’s agenda‑item public comment period to oppose a proposed invocation policy and to raise other concerns.
Keith Becker urged the board to reconsider instituting an invocation policy at school board meetings, saying such a policy would “directly infuse and entangle religion with government.” Becker argued that public schools must serve students of all faiths and none and said an invocation could pressure students and others to conform. He recommended a moment of silence as an inclusive alternative and cited James Madison and James Baldwin in his remarks.
Another commenter, Kelly Caliberti, addressed an agenda item related to instructional staff support and said she opposed disciplinary actions that removed a teacher; she also raised concerns about the student code of conduct language she described as criminalizing unauthorized photos and videos by students.
Why it matters Public comment signaled community concern about the board’s approach to ceremonial openings at meetings and about disciplinary and staff matters. Board members clarified that the invocation policy language had appeared in prior minutes for approval and that the board may consider the issue as part of regular business.
Next steps The board did not act on the invocation policy during the meeting. Public commenters were reminded that board members are available for further conversations outside the meeting by scheduling appointments.
