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Mercedes ISD trustees decline to adopt formal SB11 prayer period resolution
Summary
After discussing administrative burdens and supervision/consent concerns, the board unanimously voted to follow the superintendent's recommendation and not adopt a formal district-managed period of prayer or religious reading under Senate Bill 11.
The Mercedes ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to decline adoption of a resolution that would have established a district-managed period for prayer or reading of religious texts under Senate Bill 11. Interim Superintendent Dr. Alicia Noyola told trustees the administration recommended against adopting the resolution because implementation would create parental-consent logistics, staffing and supervision obligations, scheduling conflicts, and proximity restrictions for nonparticipating students.
Dr. Noyola said the administration recommended against adoption and clarified the action was not a prohibition on student prayer, which the superintendent noted remains a protected right. "It was noted that non-participating students could not be near the activity," the minutes record. Trustee Oscar Hernandez moved to follow the superintendent's recommendation; Trustee Ricardo Hinojosa seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The board did not adopt a formal procedure or schedule for a district-managed SB11 period and took no follow-up action on the item at the meeting.
