A Texas school district has made important policy changes in response to FFRF’s concerns with the McKinney Independent School District on several issues.
District employees were displaying crosses in a number of rooms at local high schools. A religious poster at a middle school read: “As Believers You Are Saved Forever by Grace through Faith” and continued with other religious description including “Baptized into Christ Jesus” and “Soldiers of Christ.”
Additionally, a faculty member at McKinney Boyd High School solicited participation of students to read prayers, recite scripture and sing hymns at an upcoming baccalaureate service. And each year, the graduation ceremony the high school has taken place at in the church sanctuary at the Prestonwood Baptist Church decorated with traditional Baptist Christian symbols.
The School District promised to explore alternatives to the church for McKinney High School’s graduation ceremony, and it assured FFRF it would keep the church’s religious iconography covered as long as the building was used. The district will no longer organize, sponsor or promote baccalaureate services.
