Retired officer urges board to allow Bible instruction during school day

Allen Hartfield, a retired Army special forces lieutenant colonel, used his allotted public-comment time to ask the Lamar County School District board to consider a program he described as "Bible education" or "release time," saying it would supply moral instruction he believes public schools currently lack.

Hartfield cited historical Supreme Court decisions and told the board that teaching the Bible is legal in public schools under certain release-time models. He cited a 1952 Supreme Court ruling and referenced a 1963 decision that removed organized Bible readings and prayer, arguing the earlier precedent supports voluntary release-time instruction. Hartfield also said he has materials and offered to meet with board members individually or collectively and that his program was "fully funded, ready to execute."

Board members questioned logistical hurdles for a district with roughly 10,000 students, asking whether the instruction could be offered before or after school rather than during class time. One board member noted the state legislature had considered but not passed related measures, while Hartfield countered that state law allows districts to approve release-time programs in some jurisdictions. The board asked Hartfield to supply comparative information from districts that operate such programs; he said he would provide handouts and follow up.

The district did not take action on Hartfield's proposal during the meeting. Transcript excerpts reflect a contested factual area: Hartfield asserted legal authority based on court decisions and state practice, while board members requested further legal and logistical details before considering policy changes.