After researching the use of religious facilities for school graduations, the Duval County Public School district said it had concluded that such facilities should not be used for official school functions.
“It came to our attention recently that some families’ religious beliefs would prevent them from participating in a school-sponsored event held in a religious facility,” said Tracy Pierce, chief of marketing and public relations for DCPS.
As a result, several schools including Chets Creek Elementary School, Hendricks Avenue Elementary School, and Holiday Hill Elementary School suddenly canceled their school graduations at Chets Creek Church, Southside United Methodist Church, and Holiday Hill Church, respectively this year.
“It has been the practice of Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) to highly discourage the use of religious facilities to stage public school events because of the religious entanglement and the constitutional issues raised by public school use of religious facilities,” the district’s Office of Policy and Compliance said in a May 12 email sent to all district principals. “Namely, a potential violation of the Establishment Clause.”
The Establishment Clause prevents a government from establishing a religion.
So, instead of district schools using churches, the letter advises them to hold events on school property or a non-religious offsite property.
“However, unintentionally, there will be a sense that DCPS is endorsing or promoting religion in general and or endorsing one particular religion over others,” wrote DCPS Office of Policy and Compliance attorney Brian McDuffie to the district principals.
Student groups and parent groups, such as PTAs and PTSAs, are exempt and unrestricted from using religious facilities, according to Pierce.
“This relates specifically to the use of religious facilities,” Pierce told the Florida Record. “We still very much value our faith-based partners and the work they do in our schools to support teachers and students in other ways.”
The May 12 email drew the attention of the Christian law firm, Liberty Counsel, which is known for suing when the freedom of religion under the U.S. Constitution is violated.
As previously reported in the Florida Record, the school district has yet to respond to a demand letter sent by Liberty Counsel’s founder Mat Staver accusing it of instituting a policy that is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
“Duval County Public Schools should immediately align its policies with current law and allow its schools to hold events such as graduations in church facilities," Staver said. "This district must comply with the law and immediately stop violating the First Amendment. Failure to comply with the law will be costly for the school district.”