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Trustees decline to adopt daily prayer-period resolution required by SB 11, citing operational burden
Summary
After a legal review of Senate Bill 11 (Texas Education Code §25.0823), the Mesquite ISD Board voted to decline adopting a daily prayer-period policy, citing added operational requirements including parental consent and segregation of participants.
Legal counsel briefed trustees on Senate Bill 11 and Texas Education Code Section 25.0823 before the board voted to decline adopting a districtwide daily prayer period.
Counsel explained the statute requires a district that adopts a daily prayer period to obtain parental or employee consent forms that include a waiver of legal claims, to prevent prayer or readings over the public-address system, and to ensure prayer or readings do not occur "in the physical presence of, within the hearing of, or in another manner that could harm a person who did not consent," which could require segregating students. "If the board does not adopt a daily prayer period under Senate Bill 11, it does not mean that the district is against prayer or reading of religious texts at school," counsel said, noting existing rights for students and staff to pray before or after school or during free time.
Trustee Seward moved to decline adoption to "keep our current practices in place and avoid adding operational burden and maintain the district's neutral posture towards religion which is an important part of our legal responsibility," and the motion carried by voice vote. Counsel and trustees emphasized that existing free-exercise rights remain intact whether or not the board adopts a formal daily-prayer policy.
