Fort Worth ISD rejects plan to allow unlicensed chaplains in schools

FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth ISD formally voiced its opposition to letting unlicensed religious chaplains work in its schools.

Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night in favor of a resolution that says the district won’t authorize volunteer chaplains to serve in mental health roles.

The move comes months after a state law, Senate Bill 763, was passed allowing Texas school districts to opt in or out. 

Fort Worth’s board members called that idea misguided.

"Some of my dearest friends are clergy. I have a great respect for what they do and their role in this community. But they are not school counselors," said Trustee Anne Darr. "In fact, I think it's quite insulting to think that someone who isn't trained to be a school counselor can simply come in and be a school counselor."

The vote in Fort Worth came just one day after the nearby Keller voted to approve a resolution allowing volunteer chaplains to provide services for students "as assigned by the board."

Keller ISD said chaplains will serve in volunteer roles and will not replace licensed counselors.

"This idea the board has cooked up some secret language to hoodwink the community to take the jobs of our counselors is patently false," Keller ISD Board President Charles Randklev said.

Districts that do vote in favor of paying chaplains for mental health services may do so with school security funds.

Supporters welcome the idea of providing students with spiritual guidance.

But many opponents spoke against the idea, saying it’s part of a growing push to preach Christian beliefs to children in public schools and it opens the door to proselytizing children in public schools by using unqualified advisors in place of licensed counselors.

"Chaplains are currently allowed to volunteer without issue. This bill is a trojan horse," one speaker said.

"More than 100 chaplains opposed this bill about chaplains. That is telling," another said.

"I don’t feel like all of the people who might knock on your door and say want to be chaplains will truly have the education and the training to do it properly," another speaker said.

"You are the minority and you are trying to dictate how students live their lives," a third speaker said.

Keller ISD is one of several districts where a Christian conservative political group spent heavily to support its favored candidates in school board races.

The new law does require chaplains to pass a background check. But they do not need to be certified to work in schools.

"I know military chaplains must meet rigorous educational denomination experience and character requirements. SB763 requires only the individual say they want to be a chaplain and provide a background check," Arlington Heights United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Rev. Mary Spradlin said.

The Keller ISD board president and trustees said they are following directions from state law and not trying to mislead the public.

Dallas ISD is the largest district in North Texas to opt out of having chaplains in school.

Trustees rejected the idea by a 6-1 vote in October.

"I am against untrained chaplains in our schools, being counselors for our children. I want our community to know, I believe this is the right decision by the board," Trustee Joyce Foreman.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD also took action on this item this week.

The board adopted a policy that lists chaplains as eligible for school service if they meet the qualifications for volunteers.

The policy also says that no volunteers will replace the positions of salaried professionals.