cwnewz.com - Santa Rosa County School District has been ordered by a federal judge to stop promoting religion and prayer in the classroom and at school events.
U.S. District Court Judge, Casey Rodgers, ruled Friday after school officials admitted allegations in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU sued the district, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and former Superintendent John Rogers on behalf of two unnamed Pace High students.
Rodgers' order prohibits employees from:
Promoting prayer at school-sponsored events, including graduation.
Planning or financing religious baccalaureate services.
Promoting religious beliefs to students in class or during school-sponsored events and activities.
Holding school-sponsored events at churches.
"We are pleased with Friday's decision, and we look forward to working with the defendants and the court to bring the School District in line permanently with the First Amendment," said attorney James Stevenson of the Florida ACLU's Northwest Regional office.
Tim Wyrosdick, Superintendent, declined to comment on the case, but school and district officials have admitted to the allegations being filed by the ACLU.
"The district will continue to work on policies relating to issues of religion in the schools, a process that began well before the lawsuit was filed," he said in a news release.
The School Board, Superintendent and Pace High School principal filed an "Admission of Liability" with the court regarding districtwide constitutional violations on December 15, 2008.
Among the First Amendment violations listed in the ACLU suit:
Elementary graduations and middle school Christmas concerts held at churches.
Teachers and staff at Pace High School preaching about "Judgment Day with the Lord."
Teachers and staff offering Bible readings and biblical interpretations during student meetings.
The lawsuit said the two Pace High School students are offended by the district's support of prayer at school events, including graduation, because it promotes religious beliefs they do not believe in and does not show respect to their religious choices and beliefs.
"The students were relieved the court upheld their First Amendment rights in December, and school officials would not be allowed to subject them to others' religious views," said Brandon Hensler, ACLU of Florida director of communications. ' Tammy Morgan, Pace resident, said she understands people have their beliefs but people have a choice to participate or not when someone is praying.
"I've always loved that we could pray at school," she said.
Moments of silence are still allowed by the distrcit at school and school-related events.
Wyrosdick said officials will continue to take a look at the the students rights policies and make sure religion is neither prohibited nor promoted according to state law.
"We believe this course of action will permit us to retain what we legally can, reduce legal expenses during this time of financial crisis and permit our personnel to focus solely on the education of our students," he said.
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Christian Web News - Galatians 3:13-14. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
