eMail Blog re: Community Petition to Pinellas County School Board Regarding The Liberty Counsel's 'Model Policy On Religion'.

09/18/2018 Update:

Updated 09/18/18 In 2017 The FL legislature passed Ch_2017-074.pdf The Freedom of Expression Law for all 67 county school boards to adopt in 2018. It's especially safe guarded in Florida. See the:
1. FL DOE Model Policy: Florida Department of Education Model Policy on Religious Expression in Public Schools - ModelPolicy.pdf
2. Hisways annotated copy: FL DOE's Policy On Religious Expression Print a personal copy to carry in your district or ask your school board for a copy.
  One of the significant sections: Students Engaging in Religious Activities and Expression at School
  1. A student may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expression before, during, and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that a student may engage in secular activities or expression.
  2. A student may organize prayer groups, religion clubs, and other religious gatherings before, during, and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that a student is permitted to organize secular activities and groups.
3. Now that FL has a Religious Expression Law we should seek a 1st Amendment Workshop with CEUs for Teachers
The FL legislature instructed the FL DOE to produce the Florida Department of Education Model Policy on Religious Expression in Public Schools - ModelPolicy.pdf (approx. 725 words) to be the template for all 67 school boards in the state. One brief and significant part of the new policy is:

Students and Employees Engaging in Religious Activities and Expression at School
1. [Insert County] School District may not prevent school personnel from participating in religious activities on school grounds that are initiated by students

Let's compare it to Pinellas County's Model Religion Policy (approx. 655 words) adopted in 2009: District Bylaws and Policies Manual (pdf) (Updated June 12, 2018)

Subject:	RE: Policy on Religious Freedom Progress
Date:	Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:54:01 -0500
From:	Mortimer Allen <MORTIMERA(a)pcsb.org>
To:	<Staff(a)Hisways.org>

I just wanted to let you know that the policy is scheduled for adoption at the December 8, 2009 Board meeting.

Mr. Klenk:

Below is the policy that is included for first reading on the September 29, 2009 Board meeting. Other policies will be going to the Board for first reading on October 13, 2009.

Allen Mortimer

2270 - RELIGION IN THE CURRICULUM (Link to this page's paragraph/ topic.) [Link to PCSB copy: PDF or our html copy.]

The School Board permits teaching about religion where the curriculum guides indicate it is appropriate and when the classroom atmosphere encourages both teachers and students to be responsible and to respect the rights of each person.

Such teaching must foster knowledge about religion, not indoctrination into religion; it should be academic, not devotional or testimonial; it should promote awareness of religion, not sponsor its practice; it should inform students about diversity of religious views rather than impose one particular view; and it should promote understanding and respect rather than divisiveness.

Procedures

The following procedures shall be applied to assist school administrators and teachers interpret and apply this policy.

Part 1: Curriculum

	A.	Religious instruction is the responsibility of the parents and religious institutions, but teaching about religion is a legitimate part of a complete education on the elementary and secondary levels.
	B.	Teaching about religion should always operate within the context of First Amendment rights and responsibilities. In order to ensure the activity is constitutional, its purpose and effort should be to educate about rather than promote a religion. The activity should also avoid excessive entanglement between school and religious organizations.
	C.	As a part of the curriculum, religious literature, music, drama, and the arts may be included, provided each is intrinsic to the learning experience in the various fields of study and presented objectively.

Part 2: Religious Holidays

	A.	Recognition of religious holidays should be for the purpose of providing secular instruction about religious traditions rather than promoting the particular religion involved. The study of religious holidays may be included as elementary and secondary curricula as opportunities for teaching about religions. Such study serves the academic goals of educating students about history and cultures as well as about the traditions of particular religions in a pluralistic society.
	B.	Recognition of and information about holidays may focus on how and when they are celebrated, their origins, histories and generally agreed-upon meanings. Teachers may not use the study of religious holidays as an opportunity to proselytize or to inject personal religious beliefs into the discussion.
	C.	Provided they are used as examples of cultural or religious heritage, religious symbols are permissible to use as teaching aids or resources. Religious symbols may be displayed on a temporary basis as part of the academic program. Students may choose to create artwork with religious symbols, but teachers should not assign or suggest such creations.
	D.	Sacred music may be sung or played as part of the academic study of music. School concerts that present a variety of selections may include religious music. Concerts dominated by religious music, especially when they coincide with a particular religious holiday, should be avoided. The use of art, drama or literature with religious themes is also permissible if it serves a sound educational goal in the curriculum, but not if used as a vehicle for promoting religious belief.

Part 3: Scheduling

	A.	School scheduling should reasonably accommodate the secular effects of religious observances in the community. The yearly school calendar should minimize conflicts with the religious holidays of all faiths.
	B.	The District calendar may recognize special religious observance days when there are bona fide secular reasons for recognizing such days. Special days beyond those specified on the calendar may be accommodated as reasonably as possible, with students being asked to make up assignments or examinations without loss of status or penalty.
	C.	Recognizing the importance of religious liberty and freedom of conscience, students may be excused, where it is feasible, from activities that are contrary to religious beliefs. Students are responsible for notifying school officials in advance and arranging for make-up work. Student and/or staff members wishing to be excused from activities that are contrary to their religious beliefs may make that request of the appropriate teacher or supervisor, within a reasonable time period to allow accommodations to be made.

U.S.Consti. Amend. 1

From:RE Klenk, Hisways USA, Inc. [mailto:Staff (a) Hisways.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:53 AM
To: Mortimer Allen
Subject: Re: Policy on Religious Freedom Progress

Hi Mr. Mortimer
Thank you. I will be looking forward to it.
Sincerely,
RE Klenk,

Mortimer Allen wrote:

Mr. Klenk:

Mr. Robinson asked me to inform you of the timeline for the first reading of the policy. It is tentatively scheduled for September 29, 2009 but the agenda will not be finalized until September 21, 2009. I will update you on the 21^st so you will know for sure.

Allen Mortimer
Director of Policy and Planning

8/04/2008

Mr. Klenk:

The status is the same as when I reported to you in June by E-mail with a copy of the draft policy attached. As of now we are aiming toward November. There will be two policy workshops before then and more detail as a result. Feel free to stay in touch.

Jim Robinson

James A. Robinson
School Board Attorney
The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida
301 4th Street S.W.
P.O. Box 2942
Largo, FL 33779-2942
Tel: (727) 588-6219
Cell: (727) 638-0849
Fax: (727) 588-6514
robinsonjim??@pcsb.org

Draft Policy saved at: hisways.org/liberty/ReligionPolicy-po8800Legal-reviewed.doc was completely lined out.

On 8/4/08 11:16 AM, "RE Klenk" <Sta???? (a) Hisways.org> wrote:

Hi, Mr. Jim Robinson Esq. < robinsonj??@pcsb.org> ,
    I was wondering if there was any progress or news to report on the Model School Board Policy Regarding Religion [The Liberty Counsel's comprehensive MODEL SCHOOL BOARD POLICY REGARDING RELIGION. (See Reference 1 link below.) ] since your March email regarding the whole Policy rewrite campaign. Thanks
Sincerely,
RE Klenk, - We cannot legislate salvation but we must legislate morality.- rek
- Information for evaluating your family values.

-------- Original Message --------

6/12/08
Thurs June 12 2008

Hi, Mr. Jim Robinson Esq. < robinsonj??@pcsb.org> ,
   This is an inquiry to an email 1.5 months ago and wondering what's new?
    I am following up and very curious as to whether there has been any progress on the Model School Board Policy Regarding Religion?
    Perhaps a comment on the status of the whole Policy rewrite progress would also help explain the circumstances. Thanks.
Sincerely,
RE Klenk, - If you don't vote your values, they will make evil legal.- rek

-------- Original Message --------

4/22/08
Tue Apr 22 2008

Hi, Mr. Jim Robinson Esq. <robinsonj??@pcsb.org> ,
    I am following up and very curious as to whether there has been any progress on the Model School Board Policy Regarding Religion?
    Perhaps a comment on the status of the whole Policy rewrite progress would also help explain the circumstances. Thanks.
Sincerely,
RE Klenk, - If you don't vote your values, they will make evil legal.- rek

-------- Original Message --------

3/17/08

Hi, Mr. Jim Robinson Esq. <robinsonjim??@pcsb.org> ,
    Since our presentation and petition before the School Board 10 months have passed.   I wanted to ask you what progress has been made on The Liberty Counsel's MODEL SCHOOL BOARD POLICY REGARDING RELIGION. (See Reference 1 link below.)?
    Did you receive and read the proposed policy OK?
    Has there been any progress on adopting and incorporating this comprehensive policy? About how many meetings are needed to recommend this policy?   Or what would be an approximate time line for its adoption?
   Do you agree that adopting the MODEL POLICY in total so as to maintain its 'comprehensive' characteristic would be an advantage?
     I'm hoping that I can share your response with the large group of people who are very interested in this topic. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
RE Klenk,  A concerned grandparent of future(?) govt. school kids.

Dear Mr. Klenk: I just sent this off today. I hope it answers your question. I sent your model policy off to Dr. Clapp, President of NEOLA, Inc., and to Dr. Mortimer, Director of Policy and Planning, so that we would all be certain to take it into account during policy drafting.

Jim Robinson

James A. Robinson
School Board Attorney
The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida
301 4th Street S.W.
P.O. Box 2942
Largo, FL 33779-2942
Tel: (727) 588-6219
Cell: (727) 638-0849
Fax: (727) 588-6514

From: Robinson Jim
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 12:35 PM
To: 'njbdavis@???.com'; Wilcox Clayton - Superintendent; Bostock Nancy; Brown Mary T - School Board; Clark Janet; Cook Carol; Gallucci Jane; Lerner Linda; O'Shea Peggy
Cc: +Board Office; rclap??@neola.com; Mortimer Allen
Subject: Admin Board Office: RE: Policy on Religious Freedom Progress

Dear Ms. Davis:

I am responding to your e-mail to Mrs. Bostock inquiring as to our progress with respect to the development of a policy on religious freedom in schools. I checked the minutes of the May 8, 2007, meeting at which Sonya March, Esq., an attorney with the Allied Defense Fund, made a presentation to the Board which prompted Mrs. Bostock to ask what policies the district had in place relating to religion in the schools and the constitutional rights of free speech enjoyed by students and employees. A discussion ensued among the Superintendent, myself, and Board members, and Mrs. Lerner stated that the Board had retained a consultant (NEOLA, Inc.) to work with the District in revising its policies, and that this would be a good time to look at this topic.

In fact, the NEOLA initiative is ongoing, and the topic of religious expression and student and employee free speech in the schools will be addressed in the draft policies brought by the Superintendent to the Board for review and approval. The timing is uncertain at this point as to when the policy revisions will be complete, but staff are presently reviewing and revising policies according to assigned subject areas. The Superintendent and Board have directed that this process proceed as a priority work item. Feel free to call should you have any question about the process.

James A. Robinson
School Board Attorney
The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida
301 4th Street S.W.
P.O. Box 2942
Largo, FL 33779-2942
Tel: (727) 588-6219
Cell: (727) 638-0849
Fax: (727) 588-6514

_________________ _______________________ ____________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Bostock Nancy
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 10:26 AM
To: Robinson Jim
Cc: Beaty Debbie
Subject: FW: Policy on Religious Freedom Progress

Jim,

A group of citizens approached the Board at the May 8,2007 School Board meeting with petitions and concerns about religious freedom especially around Christmas. Do you recall what sort of follow up the Board told them we would do? I remember some discussion about developing a view point neutral policy of freedom of religious expression for students and I believe you were going to look into this.

Can you tell me where we are with this or better yet can you tell Nancy Davis (see email below) where we stand with this?

Thanks!
Nancy

1. Mrs. Davis, below, initiated the email inquiry to Mrs. Bostock a school board member. Mrs. Bostock then addressed the above email to the school board attorney Mr. James "Jim" Robinson Esq.. Mr. Robinson replied to Mrs. Davis. I initiated further contact with Mr. Robinson, Esq. because The Model Policy Regarding Religion from the Liberty Counsel that I presented on the same date (May 8, 2007) was more comprehensive than Mrs. Davis' policy.
2. Regarding email above "From: Robinson Jim, Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 12:35 PM" contained this additional information: (The) "May 8, 2007, meeting at which Sonya March, Esq., an attorney with the Allied Defense Fund, made a presentation..." [ed.]

-----Original Message-----

From: NANCY DAVIS
To: NANCY BOSTOCK
Sent: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 12:38 pm
Subject: Policy on Religious Freedom Progress

Hi Nancy,

First, let me congratulate you on being the Chairman of the Pinellas County School Board again. Also I am so glad the Board passed the new school plan. It seems fair to all.

We are wondering when the issue of developing a policy on religious freedom in the schools might be. I know you have been very busy with the new school changes, but I hope this issue can come up before school is out in May 2008. Is there anything we can do to help things along, like E-mailing members of the board? Thank you for your excellent work on the Board.

Sincerely,

Nancy D,