Galveston ISD leaders said Wednesday night they won't change their stance on choosing not to display the Ten Commandments inside of school classrooms as required by a new state law, which is being challenged in multiple lawsuits filed in federal court.
Judges have issued preliminary injunctions that block a total of 25 Texas school districts from displaying posters of the biblical text. Galveston ISD is not among those districts, and the board’s Oct. 22 decision to delay displaying the posters while the issue plays out in court prompted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to sue the district earlier this month.
"The Galveston ISD board heard community input and finds state law currently conflicts with long-standing federal law and existing interpretations of the Constitution regarding the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms," GISD Superintendent Matthew Neighbors said in a statement at the meeting.
Neighbors added that district leaders are “disappointed” in the lawsuit filed by the Republican attorney general who’s seeking higher office, saying Galveston ISD “must use district resources to defend this local decision against state action."
Gov. Greg Abbott signedSenate Bill 10into law in late June,requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms. Soon after, however, multiple lawsuits were filed and a federal judge in Augusttemporarily blocked11 Texas school districtsfrom complying with SB10, citing likely violations of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
On Tuesday,a different federal judge blockedan additional 14 school districts from implementing the law, writingthat it would be "impractical, if not impossible" to protect students from "unwelcome religious displays" without halting enforcement of the law.
Paxton appealed the August ruling, and the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals plans to take up the issue in January.
At Wednesday’s meeting, several community members spoke up about the decision for Galveston ISD to refrain from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
"Sometimes being sued is the right thing to do and this board did it," community member Harvey Rice said.
In addition to GISD, Paxtonrecently sued Round Rock ISD and Leander ISDfor refusing to display the Ten Commandments.
"America is a Christian nation, and it is imperative that we display the very values and timeless truths that have historically guided the success of our country," Paxton said in anews releaseabout thesuit against GISD. "By refusing to follow the law, Galveston ISD chose to both blatantly ignore the Legislature and also ignore the legal and moral heritage of our nation."
Until the subject is taken up in January by the federal appeals court, GISD leaders said the district will "continue to seek legal counsel and navigate next steps in light of the other ongoing litigation."
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