Georgia —
FFRF reminded the Jackson County (Ga.) School System that student religious clubs cannot be led by staff members.
FFRF received a report that JCSS staff was organizing and promoting a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club for students at East Jackson Elementary School. A March 13 post on X by the head football coach for East Jackson High School showed the coach was leading the East Jackson Elementary School FCA club. Additionally, a March 14 post from the official elementary school Facebook page indicated that high school FCA members were asked to present to the elementary school FCA, suggesting that the elementary school’s FCA was being run by adults rather than students.
“JCSS cannot allow its schools to be used as recruiting grounds for religious missions,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.
FFRF learned of the district’s corrective actions from legal counsel Cory O. Kirby.
“Assistant Superintendent Kameren Todd has already met with administrators to discuss the various issues that were brought forth in your letter,” Kirby wrote. “During the meeting it was emphasized that if these clubs continue for next year, they must be student-led and governed. The district is confident that the elementary school has and will continue to make good faith effort [sic] to fully comply with the requirements of the constitution to protect the rights of all students.”
