The Kountze Independent School District Board of Trustees is continuing to review submissions from the community following a February 26 public hearing for oral and written opinions related to the ban on Bible verses used on run-through banners made by KISD cheerleaders.
A KISD spokesperson issued the following statement Friday concerning events surrounding the ban.
Kountze ISD Opposes Hostility to Religion
Kountze, Texas. The Board of Trustees of the Kountze Independent School District met on the evening of Tuesday, February 26, 2013, to hear evidence in connection with the questions raised about the display of religious quotations on Kountze High School run-through banners at high school football games. The Board of Trustees is concerned that certain actions by former Superintendent Kevin Weldon, though done in good faith, may have inadvertently given the appearance of hostility to religion or of preference for irreligion over religion. In order to gather evidence regarding the run-through banners and the impressions and sentiments of the Kountze ISD community, as well as to receive information regarding the obligations of Kountze ISD under federal and state law, the Board of Trustees held a hearing on Tuesday. The Board anticipates receiving additional information in the coming weeks. With the evidence and information provided to it, the Board of Trustees will be able to issue a considered decision that properly weighs the various interests and legal obligations involved in this controversy.
It is unfortunate that this controversy was not brought to the Board of Trustees prior to the filing of a lawsuit. The Board of Trustees provides concerned students, employees and citizens the opportunity to bring their grievances to the Board. However, the plaintiffs in the on-going lawsuit chose to bring their concerns to the court rather than to the Board. After learning of the controversy and lawsuit, the Board of Trustees promptly held a meeting and directed the superintendent to assist the Board of Trustees in gathering the evidence and information necessary to make a decision in line with the needs of the Kountze ISD community and the legal obligations that apply to Kountze ISD. The Board of Trustees supports its students and community and hopes for a resolution of this controversy that meets the needs of the students and community and complies with the law.
The statement is also on the district website at www.kountzeisd.org.
CHEERLEADER'S ATTORNEY RESPONDS
Attorney David Starnes, who represents the cheerleaders in their lawsuit seeking to lift the ban, issued a written response late Friday afternoon.
It is obvious that the Kountze citizens have lost faith in their school board.
They have continued to delay taking meaningful action. For 5 months now, this school board has refused to lift Kevin Weldon's band that forbids the Kountze cheerleaders from using Bible verses on their sporting-event banners.
Despite the Attorney General and Liberty Institute offering to defend the school district for free, this school board continues to needlessly run up litigation costs.
This case could end now if KISD would simply follow the law.
