Rockwall ISD public commenter urges board to fight federal suit over Ten Commandments posters

Lauren Lichty, a Heath resident and Rockwall ISD parent and district resident since 1986, told the Board of Trustees on Sept. 22 that she and family members purchased 1,500 posters of the Ten Commandments that have been placed in district classrooms and are now the subject of a federal lawsuit naming Rockwall ISD as a defendant.

"I am here today to ask you to take all actions necessary to fight the lawsuit and to defend our freedom of speech and our national heritage," Lichty said during public comment, and read the text of the Ten Commandments aloud to the board.

The speaker said she was informed that a new lawsuit had been filed in federal court and that the suit seeks removal of the posters. She described seeing displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools during her childhood and said she wants the board to resist what she characterized as efforts to "frustrate the will of the people of the state of Texas and our duly elected representatives."

Cindy Brown introduced Lichty to the board; both indicated they are residents of the district. The board did not take any formal action during the public comment period and board policy BED(local) limits board deliberation on items not on the agenda, though administrators may review and respond to factual information or existing policy references later, the board said at the meeting.

The district did not provide immediate comment at the meeting about the lawsuit or about whether any administrative steps would be taken. The transcript indicates Lighty said she understood a lawsuit had been filed in federal court and asked the board to "take all actions necessary" to defend the displays.