Pickens School Board changes prayer policy
PICKENS — The Pickens County School Board has given tentative approval to changing its policy on prayer at its meetings.
The panel voted 3-2 on Monday night to end the practice of having students lead prayer before the meeting. The policy also forbids the mention of the name of Jesus.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation three months ago threatened to sue the school district unless it stopped student-led prayer at its meetings.
Parents wanted to continue the student-led prayer. But school board attorneys said they were not sure the practice would survive a legal challenge.
Pickens school spokesman John Eby says the new policy should comply with state law by having only prayers that do not mention a specific deity.
The policy needs one more vote next month before it takes effect.
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