Teutopolis School Board Approves Settlement Agreement w/ACLU

The Teutopolis Board of Education Tuesday voted 6-0 to approve a settlement agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The settlement concerns the religion program that has been offered for many years before the school day at Teutopolis Grade School. Students have been bused to the program, while other bused students have been involved in other activities or free time. A parent talked with the ACLU indicating that certain practices relating to the Parish religion classes causes the parent's child or children to feel excluded and stigmatized. The parent claimed the practice violated the First Amendment.

Under the agreement, school buses will be scheduled to bring students to school approximately 15 minutes before the start of the regular school day and leave school to take students home approximately 15 minutes after the end of the regular school day.

The agreement also requires the Board to develop "content-neutral policies" regarding access to the school building and grounds for non-school organizations, including the Parish, wishing to conduct after-school activities.

The agreement also indicates that as long as the Board remains in material compliance with the settlement agreement, the parent will refrain from pursuing any legal action against the Board.

A sizable crowd gathered in the high school media center to voice concerns and complaints over the settlement and some asked for a vote on the settlement to be delayed or wanted the case litigated.

Board members told those gathered that the settlement is the best they could get and said it was far better than was first discussed. Members also said they couldn't put the District at risk of an expensive lawsuit with finances as they are. There was also input from St. Francis Parish Pastor Father Joe Carlos that the agreement should be approved and the Springfield Diocese is of the same sentiment.

School officials said it will be up to the Parish to decide the logistics of continuing the religion program, but everyone who shared was in agreement that the program should continue.

The changes involved in the agreement are to be implemented no later than the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.