Indian Creek Jr High

ACLU lawsuit sparks changes

The Sumner County Board of Education will change some of its policies in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee accusing the district of promoting Christianity.

The lawsuit, filed May 3 in U.S. District Court on behalf of nine anonymous students from four families, alleges the district has a widespread, unconstitutional pattern and practice of religious activities in schools.

The board on July 11 approved changes to three policies directly dealing with allegations that the district allowed Bibles to be distributed at Indian Lake and Madison Creek Elementary schools; a youth minister from Long Hollow Baptist Church was allowed to proselytize to students at T.W. Hunter Middle School during lunch; and that teachers at T.W. Hunter Middle School led students in prayer during club meetings.

Stricter policies for visitors, organizations and clubs

Schools will now either limit or eliminate student interaction with individuals distributing materials, such as Bibles, in order “to avoid coercion, proselytizing or the appearance of endorsement,” the policy states. School personnel must refrain from specifically promoting or announcing, to the exclusion of all other materials, the availability of another private organization’s materials.

Another policy revision spells out that visitors to schools may not approach or solicit students. Visitors present during the school day must only meet with the individuals they’re signed in to see; however, the policy says students are not prohibited from voluntarily approaching visitors.

The third policy revision says school personnel serving as club sponsors are strictly prohibited from engaging in any conduct that creates the appearance of endorsement of the organization’s or club's messages or ideas, but must only serve in a supervisory role.

Director of Schools Del Phillips on Wednesday declined to comment about how the policy revisions might affect students or school personnel.

More policy changes possible

In its response filed in court May 23, the district admitted to some of the ACLU's allegations and denied others, but overall said its actions did not violate the Constitution.

The revisions are not a compromise with the ACLU but simply a clarification of policies and procedures, said Wesley Southerland, an attorney with the religious nonprofit American Center for Law & Justice, which is defending the school board in the case.

Indian Creek Middle School Receives Letters from Liberia ...

The students at Indian Creek Middle School in Georgia recently received letter responses from the authors of “Problems to Solve”, a play with music and dance.  The Couture Club students at Indian Creek designed and made clothing for the young authors based on seeing pictures of them on this site.  They also sent letters with their gifts of clothing and other necessities and small toys.

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