Post by Tom Green on Jan 28, 2007 18:35:33 GMT -5
Christian group wins school case
Pleasanton High School must allow group to have equal access to resources, a judge rules.
By ROBERT A. CRONKLETON
The Kansas City Star
A federal judge Friday ruled in favor of three Pleasanton School District students who claimed a Christian club was denied equal access to school facilities other clubs received.
At a hearing in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia granted a preliminary injunction ordering the Kansas school district to provide the same rights and privileges to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club that it provides to other clubs.
Kristie McKee filed the lawsuit on her behalf as well as on the behalf of three of her children, who attend school in the district. The McKees claimed that the district was denying the Fellowship of Christian Athletes rights and privileges that had been granted to other noncurriculum clubs.
McKee has a junior and a sophomore at Pleasanton High School who are members of the club. The other child is a kindergarten student and hopes to be a future member of the club, according to court documents.
At Friday’s hearing, the school district’s attorney, Terelle A. Mock of Topeka, argued that the school sponsors only student groups that are related to the curriculum.
In court documents, the district argued that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is not a curriculum-related group. The district had allowed the club to meet at the school before and after school and to post signs announcing its meetings.
Mock argued that the district’s action was not about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes being a religious group and that the district was not trampling the students’ religious rights.
Rather, she argued, the district was limiting the school’s time and resources to only those groups that are curriculum-related.
In his ruling, Murguia found otherwise. Citing the school’s prom planning activities and the photo club, Murguia ruled that the school had one or more noncurriculum clubs.
The McKees’ attorney, Joel L. Oster of Leawood, said they were excited about the ruling.
“Equal access means equal access, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) should not be discriminated against just because they want to have a Christian club,” Oster said after the hearing.
Despite the district’s claims, Oster said this case was about religious issues.
“The message we want to get out there is that Christians are not second-class citizens,” Oster said. “… They are entitled to their views, and they are entitled to free expression of those views.”
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To reach Robert A. Cronkleton, call (816) 234-5994 or e-mail bcronkleton@kcstar.com.
Pleasanton High School must allow group to have equal access to resources, a judge rules.
By ROBERT A. CRONKLETON
The Kansas City Star
A federal judge Friday ruled in favor of three Pleasanton School District students who claimed a Christian club was denied equal access to school facilities other clubs received.
At a hearing in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia granted a preliminary injunction ordering the Kansas school district to provide the same rights and privileges to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club that it provides to other clubs.
Kristie McKee filed the lawsuit on her behalf as well as on the behalf of three of her children, who attend school in the district. The McKees claimed that the district was denying the Fellowship of Christian Athletes rights and privileges that had been granted to other noncurriculum clubs.
McKee has a junior and a sophomore at Pleasanton High School who are members of the club. The other child is a kindergarten student and hopes to be a future member of the club, according to court documents.
At Friday’s hearing, the school district’s attorney, Terelle A. Mock of Topeka, argued that the school sponsors only student groups that are related to the curriculum.
In court documents, the district argued that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is not a curriculum-related group. The district had allowed the club to meet at the school before and after school and to post signs announcing its meetings.
Mock argued that the district’s action was not about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes being a religious group and that the district was not trampling the students’ religious rights.
Rather, she argued, the district was limiting the school’s time and resources to only those groups that are curriculum-related.
In his ruling, Murguia found otherwise. Citing the school’s prom planning activities and the photo club, Murguia ruled that the school had one or more noncurriculum clubs.
The McKees’ attorney, Joel L. Oster of Leawood, said they were excited about the ruling.
“Equal access means equal access, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) should not be discriminated against just because they want to have a Christian club,” Oster said after the hearing.
Despite the district’s claims, Oster said this case was about religious issues.
“The message we want to get out there is that Christians are not second-class citizens,” Oster said. “… They are entitled to their views, and they are entitled to free expression of those views.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To reach Robert A. Cronkleton, call (816) 234-5994 or e-mail bcronkleton@kcstar.com.