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Board rejects proposed policy to require a period for prayer or reading of religious texts
Summary
Trustees voted to reject a proposed policy that would establish a period for prayer and the reading of religious texts in schools, opting to preserve the district's existing moment-of-silence practice and cautioning that a text-reading policy could require permitting other faiths.
The board considered a resolution tied to a state-level provision that would authorize a period for prayer and reading of religious texts in schools. Superintendent and trustees discussed the practical effect: rejecting the policy would maintain the district's current moment-of-silence practice, while accepting would create a requirement to allocate time during the day and to permit reading of other religious texts.
One trustee voiced concern that a mandated reading period could require allowing non-Christian texts such as the Quran, which they viewed as a reason to reject adoption; other trustees emphasized that student rights to private, voluntary prayer are already protected under law and district policy. The board moved to reject the proposed policy and the motion passed by voice vote; the chair said existing law and district policy already protect voluntary student prayer.
