Post by Logan on Apr 20, 2016 23:22:58 GMT -6
Illinois school board backs agreement with ACLU for alternate access to religious classes
TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. — A school board in Illinois has approved an agreement with a parent who disputed the way public school buses were used to transport students who wanted to take part in a religious program.
After more than an hour of public comments Tuesday night, the Teutopolis Unit 50 Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify the agreement, brokered by the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU), stipulating that public buses will no longer take students to Teutopolis Grade School an hour before regular classes are scheduled to begin.
Some in the crowd of more than 100 people at Teutopolis High School suggested that the board counter the proposed settlement, but board members told those in attendance that it was time to move on. Additionally, Superintendent Bill Fritcher said that if officials did not agree to the settlement, "Parent Doe" could file suit in federal court as early as Wednesday morning.
School officials, however, said it wasn't an easy choice.
"This decision is very difficult for me," said board member Chad Hewing. "This decision is very difficult for most of us. But this proposal is the best we're going to get, and if we delay a decision, it could get very ugly, very quickly."
Read more: www.dailyindependent.com/cnhi_network/illinois-school-board-backs-agreement-with-aclu-for-alternate-access/article_d0e67379-521c-5d64-8658-24f6306f90b6.html
TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. — A school board in Illinois has approved an agreement with a parent who disputed the way public school buses were used to transport students who wanted to take part in a religious program.
After more than an hour of public comments Tuesday night, the Teutopolis Unit 50 Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify the agreement, brokered by the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU), stipulating that public buses will no longer take students to Teutopolis Grade School an hour before regular classes are scheduled to begin.
Some in the crowd of more than 100 people at Teutopolis High School suggested that the board counter the proposed settlement, but board members told those in attendance that it was time to move on. Additionally, Superintendent Bill Fritcher said that if officials did not agree to the settlement, "Parent Doe" could file suit in federal court as early as Wednesday morning.
School officials, however, said it wasn't an easy choice.
"This decision is very difficult for me," said board member Chad Hewing. "This decision is very difficult for most of us. But this proposal is the best we're going to get, and if we delay a decision, it could get very ugly, very quickly."
Read more: www.dailyindependent.com/cnhi_network/illinois-school-board-backs-agreement-with-aclu-for-alternate-access/article_d0e67379-521c-5d64-8658-24f6306f90b6.html