Passions subdued at school board meeting

By Carnell Hawthorne Jr., Reporter

With rumors of removing prayer from public school functions put to rest, Tuesday's school board meeting took place with little drama.

Locals John and Rene Checkett addressed board members Tuesday and noted it was in no way their "aim or goal to remove prayer from our school system."

A story in last Friday's Democrat quoted Rene Checkett to that effect, after rumors to the contrary drew a standing-room only crowd to a scheduled Dec. 15 board meeting. That meeting was canceled due to lack of public notice.

The issue, Rene Checkett explained, was fair treatment for those with minority religious views. The couple, both Wiccans, met with Supt. Jerry Scarborough and board chair Jerry Taylor behind closed doors Friday to make their case for fair and equal treatment, particularly in regard to district policies. Both Checketts are substitute teachers.

Taylor addressed a full crowd at the 6 p.m. meeting and made clear the district's intent to handle the matter.

"As a school district we need to adopt a policy that deals with religious activities in our school system that adheres to the rights of everyone based on the law of the land, which protects everyone," Taylor said.

He said Andy Decker, the district's attorney, was in the process of drafting a policy to that effect, which should be available for discussion at a board workshop on Jan. 12.

"Hopefully it will be finalized by March or April," Taylor said.

Both John and Rene Checkett were pleased with the way the board addressed the matter.

"I like it, assuming they actually go through with it," said John Checkett.

"I presume they will," said Rene Checkett.

Several folks approached the board in regard to the matter of religious freedom in schools.

Phillip Herrington, pastor at First Baptist Church in Live Oak, addressed the practice of allowing student volunteers to pray at the start of school board meetings. Herrington thanked the board for allowing students to take part in the legislative process by "sharing from their hearts," and called it a "disservice if such a practice were eliminated."

Third Circuit Asst. State Attorney KrisAnne Hall also approached the board and was met with applause as she said, "Free speech is there to protect those who might not have the opinion of the majority."

Suwannee will participate in Race to the Top

In other business at Tuesday's meeting, the board ratified a letter by Superintendent Jerry Scarborough indicating the district's intent to take part in the federal Race to the Top program.

Sixty-three of Florida's 67 school districts have agreed to participate in the federal program, which makes more than $4 billion available to states that have raised student performance and show they are willing to embrace innovative reforms.

The Obama administration initiative aims to foster "unprecedented reforms, benefiting our teachers, students, parents and communities," according to a DOE press release.

Paperless meetings

Also mentioned at the Tuesday meeting was the board's intention to move from a printed to a paperless agenda system. Taylor said it's being done in an effort to go "a bit greener and save money."

A new large screen monitor was used Tuesday, which displayed the board's agenda for all to follow. Each board member's station has been equipped with a flat-screen computer. Full conversion from printed to paperless meetings should take place by late February or March, Taylor said.

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