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Burleson ISD school board members hesitated Aug. 13 on adopting a policy that would establish a limited public forum for student speech that forbids disciplinary action against offensive comments.
The school district may choose a model policy presented by the state or a model policy presented by the Texas Association of School Boards, Superintendent Dr. Mark Jackson said. It’s up to board members to decide which policy they select before the first day of the upcoming school year. The state model provides little control for school administrators, possibly leaving the district open to lawsuits, Jackson said. But if the district adopts the TASB model instead of the state model, the district could be in violation of the law, he said.
The new policy requirement comes from House Bill 3678, which was passed in the 80th Legislative Session this spring and signed into law by the governor. The law, Religious Viewpoints Anti-discrimination Act, addresses freedom of religious expression, student speakers, religious expression in class assignments and freedom of association, taking effect during the 2007-08 school year. The law allows students to express religious or other viewpoints in a public forum at school functions as long as vulgar and obscene language are not used. If those viewpoints offend people, the law protects students from disciplinary action.
Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter invited BISD to join the Burleson Opportunity Fund at the meeting.
Shetter asked the board to match the city’s $25,000 donation for the initial fund startup, but school board members said research must be completed to find funds available for such an investment.
“I believe there’s no time like the present to get something started like this,” Shetter said.
It is a goal of the Burleson Opportunity Fund for its first year to provide 75 two-year college scholarships to Hill College for Burleson High School graduates, Shetter said.
Burleson City Council members passed a resolution July 26 to create the fund. The purpose is to provide more scholarship money to higher education for Burleson High School graduates, according to a memorandum to the mayor and council members from City Manager Curtis Hawk. The city will contribute funding to the project through the Burleson 4A Economic Development Corp. if approved by that board.
Shetter wants the fund to provide two-year tuition to Hill College for every BHS graduate, he said.
“I think the right place to begin is to focus on community college,” Shetter said.
School board members also decided not to buy land adjacent to the Villages of Wakefield, located off Alsbury Street, because the seller made a stipulation in the contract claiming naming rights to the elementary school that would be built on the property. The seller wanted the school named after R.D. Scott, said Ronald Kuehler, assistant superintendent of business.
“I don’t like that,” board President Ronnie Johnson said. “I have nothing against R.D. Scott. He’s a good man. I just don’t want someone telling me what to do with something I’m buying ... especially at that price.”
Board members amended two district calendars. One calendar listed school board meetings for the upcoming year. Some meetings were pushed back to allow for known conflicts. The other calendar amendment pushed a bad-weather day back so there would be more time for studying for the TAKS test. By moving that day, Cinco de Mayo becomes a holiday for this school year.
Jennifer Haney can be reached at
817-558-2855, ext., 2329 or e-mail at bcnews@trcle.com.
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