Jefferson County Schools releases new statement about ending prayer over PA systems

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala (WBMA) — The Jefferson County Schools district released a second statement Friday regarding its recent decision to end prayer over PA systems during high school football games.

The school system said a letter that was not "reviewed or approved by the Superintendent or the Board" was sent to the Freedom from Religion Foundation after it complained about the PA prayer practice at Gardendale High and Pinson Valley High.

The school system said its legal counsel sent the letter to the foundation informing them the superintendent, school principals and the administration decided not allow prayer over PA systems before school-sponsored events, including football games.

In its second statement, the school system said the letter sent to the Freedom from Religion Foundation was not intended to "provide a comprehensive analysis of school prayer in every context."

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Any assertion that the Jefferson County Schools system will no longer permit school prayer during school activities is simply not correct. The right to pray and to religious expression is guaranteed under our laws and Constitution...Let us be clear, this board of education and superintendent fully supports the rights of its students and all members of the education community to pray and engage in voluntary religious expression in school settings.

The school system concluded its statement by underlining that its attorneys are preparing for its approval of a formal resolution supporting the position of Washington football coach Joseph Kennedy in his effort to secure the right to pray with his team and members of the public following games. This case is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

You can read the full statement from Jefferson County Schools below: