Oklahoma —
FFRF stayed persistent to ensure that the Wagoner Public Schools (WPS) system in Oklahoma put a stop to unconstitutional promotion of religious events using school resources.
In January, a concerned WPS family member reported that WPS was allowing First Baptist Church of Wagoner to hang an advertising banner outside the WPS football stadium alongside several other banners. Additionally, the church was also permitted to display other advertising banners within the stadium that had been removed by the time of the report. The church had reportedly rented the stadium in the past, but it was unclear if the banners on display at the time of FFRF’s letter were related to an ongoing rental, or if it was instead a non-rental related advertisement for the church.
After FFRF’s initial letter went unanswered, FFRF learned of a new violation in May. The complainant wrote that an April 23 post on the official WPS Facebook page promoted and encouraged attendance of a baccalaureate ceremony held at a local church. The post read, “Join us as we celebrate our graduating seniors during a special Baccalaureate service on Sunday, April 27. This meaningful tradition honors their accomplishments and offers encouragement and blessings for the road ahead. Let’s come together as a community to support the Class of 2025 and send them off with love and inspiration!”
“Public schools must remain neutral between religions, and between religion and nonreligion,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.
After FFRF’s second letter, Superintendent Randy Harris acknowledged both complaints, and addressed them accordingly. “The two banners in the picture were both left up after the season without any ill intent and due to sickness, staff resignation, snowy weather, etc., they weren’t taken down at the same time as all other 40-50 fence banners,” Harris wrote. He apologized for the lack of action, and reported that the banners had been taken down shortly after the issue was brought to their attention. He additionally stated that the baccalaureate post should not have been posted, and that WPS had nothing to do with the service and would not post anything similar in the future.
