School allows Christians equal access

Posted: 5/12/06

School allows Christians equal access

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

PLANO—A middle school Christian student group settled a lawsuit against the Plano Independent School District, granting the group the same privileges as other groups.

The school district paid $100 to 13-year-old Michael Shell, founder of Students Witnessing Absolute Truth, and agreed to pay attorney fees associated with the case. The district admitted no wrongdoing.

The group, which meets before classes start at Haggard Middle School, was listed on the school’s website, but the principal removed it. It later was reposted, but without a listed sponsor, although it had one.

Shell also testified the group was not allowed to have a financial account with the school as all other student clubs are.

School trustees changed district policies to allow SWAT the same privileges as those granted to nonreligious groups. SWAT now has equal access to fundraising activities, student activity accounts, bulletin boards and school webpages as other student-run clubs.

Suzii Paynter, interim director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, said the policy change gives the group what the Equal Access Act guarantees—equal access for all student groups, religious or nonreligious. That access is determined on a local level.

“You have to give religious groups the same rights as other groups,” she said.

It is beneficial for school districts to have clearly defined policies regarding student groups, Paynter noted. Groups like the Texas Association of School Boards provide guidelines schools are encouraged to use. Moving too far from those suggestions can lead a school district into court.

“These are fair principles, and they work,” she said. “They keep you out of court.”