Socorro ISD board briefed on Senate Bill 11 requirement to adopt daily prayer/Bible-reading period; administration not recommending adoption

Trustees at the Socorro ISD board briefing on Feb. 11 discussed Senate Bill 11, which requires school boards to record a yes-or-no vote before a district may establish a daily designated time for prayer or Bible reading.

Administration told trustees that implementing SB11 would require the board to adopt a specific policy and identify the time, day(s) and bell schedule impacts. Because schedules are tight, administration warned the designated period would cut into instructional time and could require changes to bell schedules. Administration advised that if the board votes to adopt the requirement, staff would create a policy specifying timing (for example: early in the day or after lunch), then return the policy for board approval. If the board declines, no policy would be created. Administration indicated it was not recommending adoption at this time but emphasized that the decision is the board’s to make and must be taken as a recorded vote at the regular meeting.

Board members sought clarification about timing and flexibility. One trustee asked whether the district could rename the period (for example, to a generic "personal advocacy" window) to broaden use; administration responded the statute specifically authorizes prayer or Bible reading and does not permit a generic substitute. The briefing also noted that if the board votes to adopt SB11, staff would need to update district policies and communicate changes to campuses and families.

Because this briefing was informational, no action was taken. The vote required by SB11 will appear on the regular board meeting agenda next week as a recorded board action.