School District Caves to Call to Shut Down Bible Club

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 20:08:50 -0400

Legal Group Says It Is Shocked by District's 'Strong-Arm Tactic'

By Allie Martin

April 17, 2006

(AgapePress) - A Christian student group may have to sue a public school district in Texas over a dispute regarding use of school facilities.

The Grapevine/Colleyville Independent School District (GCISD) recently told Students Standing Strong, a student-led Bible study club, that it would have to pay fees to hold a previously approved club meeting on school grounds, sign a rental agreement, and obtain a one-million-dollar insurance policy. Administrators also informed the club it would be banned as a non-curricular student group. Notice of these requirements was given to the club on the Friday before a Monday meeting (April 10) of the club.

Liberty Legal Institute, located in nearby Plano, says the district's demands that the club sign a rental agreement and relinquish its status as a student club are in direct violation of the Equal Access Act. Liberty Legal brought that fact to the district's attention in a demand letter that outlined the club's constitutional rights and sought to resolve the matter quickly and without litigation.

The letter may have had the desired effect -- in part, at least. Kelly Shackelford, Liberty Legal's chief counsel, says although the club was allowed to use school facilities without charge on that Monday, the issue has not been settled -- and a lawsuit is still possible if the discriminatory practices continue, he says.

"We know this is going to be a long-term problem," the attorney says, "because what we have here is a district that is doing everything in its power to discriminate against these kids because they're meeting for good reasons and doing good things."

According to the Liberty Legal spokesman, the district does not impose fees and rental agreements on other student clubs. But because Students Standing Strong is a religious group, he says, the district is "just hunting and looking for some way to throw hurdles in their way."

Shackelford says it is "sad" what the district is doing to the club. "These are good kids," he says, noting that the group became an issue with administrators after several parents complained about the Christian club.

"The small group of parents is complaining because this group is so successful and it's a Christian group," he explains. "And they're asking the school district to stop them, which is against the law."

But instead of standing up to the parents and explaining that the district does not discriminate against any clubs, Christian or not, Shackelford says GCISD is "going along and trying to figure out ways to discriminate."

"And if they do it again," he warns, "we'll go to court, if necessary, to protect these kids' rights to meet, to encourage one another in their faith, to sing, and to do things that they're doing that the school should be happy that they're doing."

Shackelford says it is unfortunate, but apparently district officials are more worried about a small group of parents than they are about protecting the rights of the student-led club.

Texas School District Caves to Parents' Call to Shut Down Bible Club