Parents, retired teacher urge Brunswick County Schools to keep safeguards in policy on religious expression

At its March 5 meeting the Brunswick County Board of Education heard public comment urging the district to retain clearer safeguards in Policy 3515, the district’s policy on freedom of religion in schools.

Brian Rup, a parent of a county freshman, told the board the proposed changes risk shifting “responsibility from clear rules to individual judgment,” which he said would invite inconsistent treatment across schools and increase the likelihood of lawsuits. “The biggest risk, of course, is litigation,” Rup said, arguing that perception, not intent, often determines the outcome of constitutional disputes.

Suzanne Duncan, a retired teacher and parent, said the concern was not opposition to individual religious expression but the district’s duty to remain neutral. “Public schools have a responsibility to remain neutral, not promoting religion but not restricting individual expression either,” Duncan said, and she urged the board to keep the current policy rather than adopt broader, less defined language.

Both speakers asked the board for clearer lines between permissible student expression and actions that could be construed as school endorsement, citing graduation speeches, assemblies and athletic events as moments particularly at risk. They warned that vague policy language could leave staff uncertain about permitted conduct and create an uneven experience for students of different beliefs.

Board members did not take a final vote on Policy 3515 at the March 5 meeting; the comments were made during the public address portion. The board’s attorney had reviewed public comment rules at the meeting’s start, and the transcript shows the administration and board will continue policy discussions as part of committee review and future agenda work.