Last fall, the Smith County School System became involved in a lawsuit concerning the promotion of religion in schools. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), on behalf of Kelly Butler and Sharona and Jason Carr, sued Smith County Schools in November 2019.
The Smith County Board of Education filed a response at the end of December 2019, and a date has now been set for the trial.
The case is set for a bench trial on May 25, 2021. The trial will take place in Cookeville, Tennessee.
The original lawsuit filed by Butler and Carr alleges that Smith County school officials “routinely promoted and inculcated Christian religious beliefs by sponsoring religious activities and conveying religious messages to students” at Smith County High School and Smith County Middle School.
Additionally, the lawsuit mentions “school-sponsored” prayer at athletic and school events, “religious iconography” on school walls, and teachers who “proselytize” and promote the Christian faith. You can read more about the reasons the lawsuit was filed on the ACLU website.
The Smith County Board of Education’s answer to this lawsuit consists of a paragraph-by-paragraph response to the plaintiffs’ allegations.
You can read the original lawsuit here, and read the School Board’s response here.
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