After another hour or so of heated discussion at Tuesday's School Board meeting, from the dais and the community during public comment on the subject, the Osceola County School District is at the same place it was two weeks ago following its last meeting about implementing a school chaplain program.
By the same 3-2 vote as on Aug. 13, Board members voted Tuesday not to pass a new policy that would create a volunteer school chaplain program, that parents would be able to opt-in their children for to be able to seek spiritual guidance.
By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, those from the public who spoke were against the plan, citing a number of corners, like:
- How a religious leader will be apt to proselytize or preach in a biased manner, and how that would be enforced or monitored
- Ensuring how all 70,000 Osceola students would be able to get chaplains of their faiths
- How chaplains are not trained, experienced and licensed mental health counselors who require specialized qualified and certified training in handling bigger issues like anxiety and suicidal traits — which they said was a bigger pressing need
- While the policy includes background checks, it has no clear definition of a "chaplain"
- That recommending a student seek out a chaplain becomes coercion/indoctrination, and can cause damage and trauma
David Williamson of the Central Florida Freethought Community said the plan needed more time and study.
"There are 257 religious congregations in Osceola. Just 14 are not churches," he said. "That would leave minority faith leaders for eight schools. Those served need it the least, leaving those scared of being marginalized or being told about what they think or who they love."
The group Voices from Florida had speakers say Tuesday that adult figures in schools are seen as guiders, and that most will be Christians.
"If they were Muslims or pagans, would you still do this?" one speaker asked. "It is a thinly-veiled attempt to bring one religion into schools. It is our inherent right to worship how we want, or not at all."
Representatives from the Satanic Temple – formed to oppose focused religion in public places like schools — stress the district's plan is unpopular, poorly planned and brings risk to students, and noted the state policy is a threat to civil liberties, as Gov. Ron DeSantis attempted to define religions when he signed the law — from the Tohopekaliga High School gym in Osceola County — including saying the Satantic Temple is not a religious group in what he called "having common sense with this."
Those who spoke for it stressed that it would be a voluntary program, not a mandatory one that would force religious beliefs on children, and that traditional guidance counselors would still be an option to provide completely secular advice.
"All we ask is that in the spirit of tolerance of inclusion and affirmation, it would be nice to open to a spirit of assistance," said local minister Pastor Jim Book.
Despite the tenor of the room against the plan, Board member Jon Arguello motioned to pass it as written, and the only supporting vote came from Board member Scott Ramsey.
"One group is here to protect our kids, a group interested in the betterment of our community and protecting our school," Arguello said. "There's another group scaring people with lies, fear-mongering and misinformation. The mental wellbeing of of our students is not positive, and this school district has a horrendous record of protecting our students. This is a potential program, with no cost, that may help students who are hurting emotionally and spiritually."
Ramsey proposed surveying administrators and teachers on their feedback for how to implement this, since they'd be on the front lines of it in our schools. After the meeting, he explained his support.
"To a lot of students, faith plays a part in all their decisions; it's in their DNA," he said. "They should be able to speak to the religious leader of their choice. But I want teacher and administrator input, so they can have a say in how this is put in place."
Board members Heather Kahoun, Teresa Castillo and Julius Melendez remained 'no' votes from Aug. 13. Melendez stayed steadfast in wanting to assemble a task force of the community about the best way to move forward on it.
At the heart of House Bill 931 that DeSantis signed here in town, chaplains would be able to volunteer their time in schools. After passing standard volunteer background checks, they'd be added to a list of available chaplains. Parents or guardians could then choose a chaplain from that list that would be authorized to meet with their child.
Both Arguello and Ramsey said they expected the policy to come before the board again. The next School Board workshop discussing the rulemaking cycle is scheduled for the Nov. 19 Board meeting, with a public hearing on Dec. 10.
