The Alton R-IV School District in Missouri assured Alton community members that the district was not engaging in unconstitutional funding and promotion of a religious ceremony.
A community member reported that the district was sponsoring and hosting a religious baccalaureate ceremony in the high school gymnasium. The district advertised and promoted the ceremony alongside graduation on its official Facebook page, and the advertisement included a graphic depicting three Latin crosses.
FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence contacted Superintendent Julie Williams regarding the constitutional violation.
The district attorney then reached out to FFRF to confirm that the ceremony was not being sponsored by the district. Additionally, the district removed the advertisement from its Facebook page to ensure that confusion would not continue.
