School board talks prayer, hears from parents
ORRVILLE – Members of the Orrville Board of Education shared their thoughts Thursday surrounding their long-held practice of praying at the beginning of their meetings and whether to continue the practice. No official motion was made, but some members agreed they may have a moment of silence at the next meeting instead of having a prayer.
During public participation, community members and parents raised questions regarding current curriculum in place, asking if they could have any input. Members of the board and the superintendent answered their questions and assured them that they reviewed the curriculum and made sure parents' voices were heard.
Prayer discussion
Before discussing some topics from the treasurer, Superintendent Jon Ritchie asked the board members if they wanted to discuss the letter they were sent by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
This organization, which is known for promoting the separation of church and state, sent members of the board an email on Dec. 22 stating that beginning a public meeting with a Christian prayer "is beyond the scope of a public-school board,” based on rulings and precedents made by the Supreme Court.
Board President Greg Roadruck opened the discussion saying he felt the prayer was always meant as a way for the board to come together and collect themselves before each meeting.
“I don't think anyone here wants to force their own religion on anybody or anything like that,” Roadruck said. “... It was a moment for us to clear our thoughts and realize ‘This isn't about me; this isn't about the board. It's about the students and the community.' ”
Board member Wayne Steiner agreed with Roadruck, saying he also felt like it was a moment to clear their minds before each meeting, but that he felt torn. He said he didn't feel what they were doing was wrong, but he didn't want to “become martyrs” and fight against any legal action.
Most of the board members agreed with Steiner's sentiments and discussed different options of what they could do, eventually leading board member Pat Lorson to propose the idea of having a moment of silence instead.
“Our administrators, our teachers and everybody else has been through enough in the past few years. I don't want to throw this on their plate,” Lorson said. “... So my thinking is that a moment of silence sends a message.”
After the meeting Karen Heineman, a staff attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said the foundation has not received an official response from the board regarding the email, but the foundation is hoping to hear something
soon. Heineman said it plans to reach back out later this month if it doesn't receive a response.
Curriculum questions from parents
Several parents raised questions about how curriculum is chosen and approved for the schools and if parents can have any say in what goes into it.
One parent shared she didn't feel like she knew what was being taught in her children's schools since there aren't as
many things that they bring home anymore.
“Since kids don't really bring home books, it's impossible to know what is being taught in those books, I have no idea,” one parent said. “How am I supposed to know as a parent what is being taught in those books or from the teachers if I'm not there to see the books (because) the books aren't brought home.”
Ritchie said that while the board does approve the curriculum before it goes out to the schools, most of the curriculum is written by the teachers.
“They're the experts,” Ritchie said. “The challenge of involving parents sometimes is what you may believe may not be what other people believe.”
Ritchie did clarify that if a parent wishes to know what is on the curriculum, like a class reading list, they can request to see those. He also said, much like photo requests, parents also can request their student not read or participate in portions of curriculum if they do not feel comfortable with their child learning it.
“We do have a handful of folks that don't do some of the things the other kids do,” Ritchie said. “So as a parent, I think it's your right to help dictate that. And we would get you the things you need to even make that decision.”
Other information to know
● Sasha Stark, a new board member, was sworn in and will serve on several committees including curriculum steering, facilities and student liaison.
● The Willard E. Smucker Foundation donated $12,000 to the district to be used on various things including the elementary music program and Character Education, the Orrville High School band and the Earth Science Club.
● The board approved to allow the treasurer to begin advertising for a project to update the heating ventilation and air conditioning system in the old high school sections of the building.
The next Orrville Board of Education meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Orrville High School.
Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com
On Twitter: @Rachelkaras3