Public commenter asks BESE to consider legislation on teaching 'Ten Commandments'; chair declines off‑agenda remarks

Freya Anderson Rivers identified herself during the academic goals and instructional improvement agenda item and asked the board to consider what she described as a recent legislative decision to require instruction on the Ten Commandments as history in classrooms.

"My name is Freya Anderson Rivers, and I'm here to speak on instructional improvement...this is I'm asking your consideration, please. Because this is a on a recent decision by the legislature...the 10 commandments in every classroom," Rivers said when called forward by the chair.

The chair replied that the board must limit public comment to items on the published agenda and indicated the time to raise the matter had passed. Counsel clarified procedural limits, saying the board's rules require public comment to be limited to the agenda item under consideration and reminded attendees of BESE rules addressing decorum and disruptions.

Why it matters: The exchange shows how BESE enforces agenda limits and handles off‑topic public comments that raise potentially contentious curriculum issues. Rivers framed her request as a response to a legislative action; the transcript records the assertion but does not record board discussion of the underlying legislative claim or any action to place the subject on a future agenda.

The chair thanked counsel and moved on to the next scheduled item. No formal referral or board direction to staff was recorded on the transcript regarding the legislative claim or curriculum change.