Administration recommends declining required Senate Bill 11 prayer resolution
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Summary
Under Senate Bill 11, each district must record a vote within six months to adopt or decline a resolution designating time for daily prayer or reading religious texts; administration recommended the board decline to adopt and instead continue to allow student-led, voluntary expression during existing reading times.
Speaker 3 briefed the board on a state requirement from Senate Bill 11: within six months of its effective date each school board must record a vote either adopting a resolution that designates time each school day for students and employees to pray or read religious texts or declining to adopt that resolution.
Administration recommended declining to adopt the resolution, noting that the district already has daily reading time and student-led voluntary opportunities. "I would recommend that the board... would decline to adopt the resolution," Speaker 3 said, while adding that students who bring religious texts still retain the option to read them during available reading time. Board members discussed the wording and whether declining could be phrased to avoid giving the impression the district prevents students from privately praying or reading religious texts.
The board directed administration to prepare language for the February meeting; administration said the required vote will appear on the February agenda for formal board action.