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Plainview ISD trustees unanimously reject state-directed prayer policy (SB 11)
Summary
At their Feb. 19 meeting, the Plainview ISD Board voted 6–0 to oppose the state-prescribed school prayer policy tied to Texas Education Code §25.0823 (SB 11), approving a concise district resolution to maintain the existing moment-of-silence practice and avoid adopting the statutelanguage that could require parental consent and district-managed religious reading periods.
The Plainview Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Feb. 19 to oppose a state-prescribed prayer policy tied to SB 11 by approving a short resolution that preserves the district's existing moment-of-silence practice rather than adopting the statute's specific language.
Administration presented two draft resolutions and recommended the shorter version that affirms current practice and avoids creating a district-managed, adult-led period of prayer or the parental-consent recordkeeping language in the longer draft. Administration cited the First Amendment and existing Texas Education Code provisions that allow students to pray individually and permit a period of silence (Texas Education Code §25.901 and §25.082).
Scott Strobis, a parent who addressed the board during public comment, urged trustees to reject SB 11, arguing the statute could require the district to separate students based on parental responses to a consent form and thereby risk constitutional concerns. "SB 11 flirts with the First Amendment," Strobis said, urging a "quick and decisive no." Administration noted the cleaner resolution avoids those entanglements and recommended the board maintain the status quo moment-of-silence practice.
Trustee Salazar moved the resolution to vote no on Texas Education Code §25.0823; Trustee Ray seconded. The motion carried 6–0. Superintendent/administration staff said they will prepare a clean, signed copy of the resolution for submission to the Texas Education Agency.
The resolution makes clear the district will continue to allow voluntary, student-led prayer and moments of silence, and that the district will not adopt the state-prescribed model that could require adult-led religious reading or formal parental tracking. The board did not adopt the long-form alternative that administrators cautioned could create implementation complications.
The board's action is administrative and declaratory: it affirms current practice and directs staff to submit the district's resolution to the TEA. No change to classroom practice was announced beyond preserving the current moment-of-silence procedure.
