Laredo ISD board adopts resolution to bar volunteer chaplains from serving in schools; trustees debate scope
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Summary
The Board adopted a resolution — referenced as bill 783 — to not employ nor accept volunteer chaplains in school settings, prompting questions about whether certified counselors who also serve as chaplains would be affected; the measure passed after debate with recorded opposition and an abstention.
LAREDO, Texas — The Laredo Independent School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 12 approved a resolution to "not employ nor accept chaplains as volunteers" in its schools, a policy action trustees said is intended to limit volunteer religious counseling roles that lack certification.
Superintendent Dr. Rios told trustees the resolution targets invitations to serve specifically as chaplains by outside volunteers who are not certified counselors, and that the district continues to use certified counselors and established memoranda of understanding with community agencies for crisis response. "It's just a resolution against, asking a chaplain, which would be from a designated religious purpose without them even being certified," Dr. Rios said.
Trustee (speaker S16) raised a hypothetical: would the resolution bar hiring a candidate who is a certified counselor but who formerly served as a military chaplain? "Would this resolution prevent that person from being hired?" the trustee asked, citing concerns about perception and potential discrimination if a hiring decision followed at a later date. Dr. Rios and other administrators clarified the policy distinction: the resolution targets volunteers who would be invited into schools specifically in a chaplain role, not qualified applicants who meet district counselor job requirements.
Board discussion also noted the policy's origin and timeline: trustees said the draft came from Tasby (as presented) and that the district must act by a cited deadline (trustees referenced a March 1 deadline during discussion). Board counsel confirmed the resolution would not prevent the district from advertising and hiring certified counselors who meet job requirements; it would only bar inviting outside volunteers to function as chaplains.
Vote and outcome
After debate the board took voice votes; the motion passed with recorded opposition and one abstention. The board did not identify individual roll call votes in the public voice tally, but the chair announced "motion passes" after a count that included a recorded "nay" and one abstention.
What it means
Trustees said the resolution is intended to protect students by ensuring counseling services come from certified professionals or established partner agencies, not from volunteers who would serve in explicitly religious chaplain roles. Administration said existing crisis‑response MOUs and the district's certified counseling staff provide current coverage; the resolution creates policy constraints for volunteer chaplains while preserving the district's ability to hire qualified counselors in regular posted positions.
