WESTMINSTER : Group Says Schools’ Flyer Policy Is Unfair

Prompted by a lawsuit threat, Westminster School District officials are considering whether to prohibit the on-campus distribution of flyers for community groups such as the Girl Scouts and Little League.

The Board of Trustees instructed staff members Thursday night to propose new policies that would modify or ban outright the current practice of permitting teachers to distribute flyers for youth and charitable organizations in class.

Current policy forbids distribution of flyers from political or religious groups.

Athletes in Action, a local Christian athletic organization, has alleged the district’s policy violates the group’s First Amendment free speech rights. Officials for the organization threatened to sue the district unless it changes the policy to treat all groups the same.

At Thursday’s meeting, Steve Mousetis, a spokesman for Athletes in Action, urged that teachers be permitted to pass out flyers advertising the organization’s after-school program, which includes an optional Bible-study component.

Trustees praised the program but said it was inappropriate to have district employees help advertise it on campus.

“What you’re asking us to do is use our teachers to hand out flyers which are used for the promotion of a particular religious belief,” Trustee Nancy L. Blumenthal said.

Doing so could suggest that the district endorsed those beliefs, which would violate the First Amendment separation of church and state, she said.

The board will consider new regulations at its June 1 meeting.