Federal judge's decision influences neutrality guidelines in Walton County schools

 On Jan. 9, a preliminary injunction was granted by a United States District Court, ordering the Santa Rosa School District to discontinue religious advancement. The Walton County School District's religious neutrality training manual is also dated Jan. 9.

"We have promulgated religious neutrality guidelines and a training manual as a direct result of the American Civil Liberties Union case in Santa Rosa County," said Mark Davis, Walton County School Board's Dist. 5 member. "This should work," he added.

Voting in favor of distribution of the manual in Walton County were four board members, with a dissenting vote cast by Sharon Roberts, Dist. 3, on the basis that its use "put administrators' heads on the chopping block."

"The (Santa Rosa) School District ultimately did the right thing in admitting and accepting responsibility for its violations of students' constitutional rights," said Benjamin James Stevenson, principal litigator and staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida's Northwest Regional office.

The preliminary injunction entered by the court prohibits all district officials from:

•·          promoting or sponsoring prayers during school-sponsored events, including graduation;

•·          planning or financing religious baccalaureate services;

•·          holding school-sponsored events at religious venues when alternative venues are reasonably available; and

•·          permitting school officials to promote their personal religious beliefs and proselytize students in class or during school-sponsored events and activities.

Parties to the suit and the court will work together to fashion permanent relief reflecting these principles.

"We are pleased with Friday's decision, and we look forward to working with the defendants and the court to permanently bring the school district in line with the First Amendment,"said Stevenson.

The complete manual approved for distribution to administrators by the Walton County School District, "Religious Neutrality in Public Schools - The First Amendment" is available for viewing and download on the School District's web site at http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/board/minutes/pdf/boardpackets/010609%20Electronic%20Agenda%20II.pdf.