NEISD trustees decline to adopt resolution to implement Senate Bill 11

The Northeast Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7‑0 on Feb. 11 to decline a resolution that would have authorized the district to begin crafting a policy under Senate Bill 11 to create a dedicated period during the school day for prayer or reading religious texts.

Board legal counsel Mister Lopez told trustees the law permits a district to set aside a specific, non‑instructional period for voluntary prayer or the reading of religious texts, but requires written parental consent for student participation and written consent for employees who wish to take part. "Kids can already pray," Lopez said, explaining that the change would create a new, administratively managed option rather than remove existing individual prayer rights. He also noted that any dedicated period would not count toward the 75,600 minutes of required instructional time.

Trustees questioned how the district would implement the change across campuses — including how to track and store permission forms, supervise consenting students during the period, and ensure equitable access if different denominations request space. Trustee Chigi described concern about supervision and logistics, and Trustee Villareal warned the measure could be perceived as "stepping between a parent and child relationship." Lopez repeatedly framed those points as implementation matters: the board would adopt a resolution only to authorize creation of a policy and the administration would later work through scheduling, supervision and consent logistics.

After extended discussion about parental consent, potential conflicts among religious groups and how dedicated time would affect instructional minutes, Trustee Shelton moved that the board not adopt the resolution related to Senate Bill 11; Trustee Landry seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote 7‑0.

The board did not instruct administration to draft a policy after the vote; the action instead stopped the resolution track for now. The board's counsel and several trustees noted that students and employees retain rights to private prayer and religious expression under current statutes and case law.