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Fayette County board adds sentence to anti-discrimination policy to affirm equal protection for all religions
Summary
The Fayette County Public Schools board voted unanimously March 5 to add the sentence “Equal protection is extended to every religion” to Policy 4.100, aiming to align local policy with state guidance on antisemitism while addressing equal-protection concerns; the change will be reviewed by legal counsel and TSBA before second reading.
The Fayette County Public Schools board voted unanimously March 5 to add the sentence “Equal protection is extended to every religion” to Policy 4.100 (Instructional Program) after a public comment and board discussion about whether singling out protections for Jewish students could raise constitutional concerns.
Board member Harold Rounds proposed the amendment, arguing that the additional language would preserve compliance with state guidance while avoiding any implication that one religion received preferential treatment. Board Chairman Warner Speakman seconded the motion, and the board approved the change. Dr. McPherson and Kevin Powers noted that state law and guidance from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) require districts to integrate a definition of antisemitism into antidiscrimination policies to address antisemitic harassment.
The change follows public comment from Mickey White, who urged the board not to single out one religion and questioned whether state-level organizations were unduly influencing local policy. The board discussed constitutional limits under the Fourteenth Amendment and the need to balance legal compliance with neutral, inclusive wording.
The board directed that the amended language be submitted to TSBA and reviewed by legal counsel before returning to the committee for a second reading and final adoption. The vote on the amendment was recorded as unanimous among members present.
