Orrville board’s prayer practice gets scrutiny
ORRVILLE – An organization known for promoting the separation of church and state is taking City Schools to task for praying at school board meetings.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation notified the Board of Education via a Dec. 22 email that opening the monthly public meetings with a Christian prayer “is beyond the scope of a public-school board,” according to rulings and precedents made by the Supreme Court.
The school district is reviewing the matter with its legal counsel, said Superintendent Jon Ritchie, and may discuss the issue at a future board meeting.
Freedom From Religion Foundation makes its case
Karen Heineman, a staff attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said the organization was contacted in October by a parent who lives in the school district and who attended a recent school board meeting that was opened with a prayer.
The letter to the board stated, “the prayer witnessed by our complainant was Christian and ended with ‘our savior Jesus Christ’,” and noted the prayer came before the pledge of allegiance, the first item listed on many of the school board agendas.
“Board member Wayne Steiner promotes his personal religious beliefs at board meetings and has been hostile to the expression of other religious views,” according to the foundation’s letter.
Heineman said that may have swayed the board’s vote on mask requirements.
“There had been some initial talk, (the board) seemed to be leaning toward the mask mandate. The one board member promoted his views that basically God decides how long we’re going to be here with or without a mask. And then the vote went the other way.”
School district policies state the board is prohibited from discriminating against anyone based on several personal aspects, including their religion. Heineman said prayer at public meetings and allowing board members to share their personal views negates
those policies.
“Even the district policies ... say board members have the responsibility to be representative to be responsive, and that the board doesn’t discriminate on the basis of religion,” Heineman said. “I think when you have a Christian prayer opening every board meeting, and when you have somebody expressing his personal religious beliefs, they aren’t even following their own policies.”
An email and a phone call to Steiner through the board office were not returned.
Orrville School District response
Board President Greg Roadruck confirmed the board says a prayer before each meeting, describing the intent of the prayer as a moment to come together rather than a push for any one set of beliefs.
“Our intent is not to force anything on anybody or anything like that,” Roadruck said. “The intent of a prayer, in my opinion only, is that it’s to clear our mind and make sure we’re thinking not just (about) ourselves but the entire community.”
Roadruck said the prayer is said before the meeting is called to order so that it is not a part of the meeting.
While the board has not met since
the letter was sent, Roadruck said, the prayer matter will be reviewed to ensure the board is following the rules.
“We take an oath, I’ll take it again here shortly, to uphold the Constitution and all the laws of the state of Ohio,” Roadruck said. “So we do have to go by that, so that’s what we’ll do.”
What happens next?
Heineman said the foundation is awaiting the board’s official response to the letter.
As of Dec. 27, Superintendent Jon Ritchie said all board members had received a copy of the letter and are reviewing it independently. Ritchie also said the district’s legal counsel is reviewing the letter and the matter may be addressed at a future board meeting.
Any changes to how the school board conducts its meetings are yet to be determined, however, Roadruck said he does not want the matter to become a long-term issue.
“Personally, I (may) have different thoughts, maybe,” Roadruck said. “But legally, we are bound by the laws of the state and I’m not gonna waste any taxpayers’ money on fighting Ohio laws or the Constitution.”
Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com
On Twitter: @Rachelkaras3