Board hears calls to restore prayer in schools and expand classroom cameras after recent incident

At a Mobile County Public Schools board meeting, a speaker urged the board to place an item on a future agenda to “put prayer back in schools” and asked the district to install cameras in classrooms after what the speaker described as a recent incident at “Ella Grande.” "I would like the board to consider putting on the next agenda to put prayer back in schools," the speaker said.

Board members debated the legal limits of school‑led prayer. One member and the board’s counsel warned that organized prayer in public schools raises First Amendment issues and that court rulings limit school‑sponsored religious activity. Several members said a moment of silence would be a lawful alternative that permits private personal prayer without violating constitutional limits. A board member said student‑led, voluntary prayer around the flagpole has occurred for about 10 years and is not teacher‑organized.

The meeting also included questions about cameras in special‑education classrooms. An administrator stated that cameras in certain special‑education settings are required by law and said the district must follow applicable rules; board members asked the superintendent and counsel to review privacy and legal implications and report back. The chair asked staff to consult the district attorney and return information on the privacy and legal ramifications.

No formal change in district policy occurred at the meeting; board members adopted the agenda and referred the legal and privacy questions to the superintendent and counsel for follow‑up. The board did not vote to reinstate school‑led prayer during the session.