VOLUNTARY PRIVATE PRAYER AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
It shall be the policy of this Oologah-Talala Board of Education that no sectarian or religious doctrine shall be taught or inculcated into the curriculum or activities of the school. However, those students who wish to do so may participate in voluntary prayer so long as it is during noninstructional time and does not interfere with the rights of other students.
School employees are free to engage in private religious prayer during school events, including sporting events and graduation ceremonies when employees are free to attend briefly to personal matters and students are engaged in other activities in accordance with the holding in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District., 142 S.Ct. 2407 (2022).
Each school site within the district shall observe one minute of silence each day for the purpose of allowing each student to meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity that does not interfere with, distract, or impede other students in the exercise of their choice. All school personnel are to afford these options to all students, who will individually make the selection as to which of these behaviors they will engage in during the moment of silence. These options will also be included in the student handbooks.
The minute of silence shall be announced over the public address system as follows: “We now pause for a minute of silence in which students may reflect, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity that does not interfere with, distract, or impede other students in the exercise of their individual choices”
If the district or a school employee is sued for providing a moment of silence to students, the district must notify the Attorney General within five (5) days. The Attorney General will provide legal representation to the district or employee named as a defendant in an action related to this statutory requirement.
Individuals who wish to file a complaint regarding a violation of 70 O.S. §11-101.1 or §11-101.2 should notify the building principal in writing of the specific issue that has occurred. The building principal will notify the superintendent that a complaint has been received. The building principal shall investigate the issue and determine whether a violation of the law has occurred. If the law has been violated, a plan of corrective action should be taken to address the issue.
REFERENCE: 70 O.S. §11-101.1
70 O.S. §11-101.2
Accreditation Standard 210:35-3-251
Accreditation Standard 210:35-3-252
Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist., 142 S. Ct. 2407 (2022)
A POLICY ON THIS TOPIC IS REQUIRED BY THE REFERENCED RULES EFFECTIVE 2024
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