Keller ISD votes to allow chaplains in school at contentious board meeting

Keller ISD votes to allow chaplains in schools

Keller ISD's Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night was a contentious one. Several members of the public came to show their support and opposition for a measure that would allow chaplains into Keller ISD schools.

KELLER, Texas - Keller ISD is the latest school district to vote to allow unlicensed religious chaplains into its schools.

A crowd of people, both for and against the resolution, spoke at a contentious Keller ISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night,.

The resolution, which allows volunteer chaplains to provide services for students "as assigned by the board," was met with fiery debate from people on both sides of the issue.

Some public speakers said the law helps with the need for counselors and others had concern about Christian influence in public schools.

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

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

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

Opponents say the law opens the door to proselytizing children in public schools, using unqualified advisors in place of licensed counselors.

The law permits unlicensed chaplains to counsel students or perform whatever duties a school board allows.

It's unclear what specific duties Keller ISD will assign.

"Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, athiests, Buddhists might feel marginalized getting guidance from counselors who might not fully understand or respect their beliefs," said one speaker.

Supporters welcome the idea of providing more spiritual guidance to students.

Some public speakers gave voice to that.

"If I had my way, it would be God first in everything. I think this is a great compromise," said a parent on Monday night.

The Board ordered at least one person to be removed from the meeting after people in the crowd applauded the opposition.

"Will you please escort Ms. Potts out. I can hardly hear up here with her loud clapping. Can you remove Ms. Potts for being disruptive?" said Board President Charles Randklev.

After public comment, board member Ruthie Keyes said the resolution affirmed why she is stepping down after 11 years as a trustee.

She was interrupted by the board president.

"I am just walking out right here. For those of you want to hear the end of this, I will be right out there," said Keyes pointing to the door.

Keller ISD is one of several districts where a Christian Conservative PAC has spent more than $500,000 to help candidates with like-minded values win school board seats.

At Monday's meeting, Randklev told the crowd the trustees are not trying to mislead the public with this vote, saying they are following directions from state law.

"This idea the board has cooked up some sort of secret language in order to hoodwink the community into piping in chaplains who would then take the jobs of our counselors is patently false," said the school board president. "We are talking about volunteers, we are not talking about replacing any of the counselors."

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD's board made a similar vote on Monday night as well.

GCISD issued a statement to FOX 4 about the vote:

"Senate Bill 763 was passed by the 88th Legislature and requires each school board to take a record vote on whether to adopt a policy authorizing a campus of the district to employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain under Education Code Chapter 23. At the meeting, the Board approved an update to DP(LOCAL) to clarify that the district will continue to staff counseling positions as it has in the past with individuals who have the necessary credentials and are qualified on the basis of being a school counselor. Additionally, the Board approved a new GKG(LOCAL) policy based on the district’s long-standing practice for school volunteers. The role of the school volunteer in the district is unchanged and the new policy outlines the role and rules for volunteers in the district’s schools, which shall work under the supervision of the campus principal or district employee in whose building they are assigned. The policy also makes clear that volunteers shall not be used to 'usurp, diminish, or replace the position or functions of salaried professional or paraprofessional employees.'"