OCALA, Fla. – School boards in Marion and Osceola counties are among the first in the state developing policies that, if approved, would allow faith-based chaplains to provide services on public school campuses.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in April authorizing school boards to establish policies allowing volunteer chaplains “to provide support, services and programs” to students. The new law took effect last month.
“I think we have a mental health crisis. I think we have a community that is suffering,” said Marion County school board member Dr. Sarah James. “Having a chaplain on campus gives a parent an opportunity to choose to have their child have an extra arm of support for when that child may need some spiritual help.”
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Under the new law, school districts that implement a volunteer chaplain program are required to obtain written parental consent before a student receives services.
“They will have to sign waivers. They will have to agree to the participation,” James said.
State law requires principals to inform all parents of available services, and a list of available chaplains and their religious affiliation, if applicable, must be published on school district websites.
School districts are also required by law to conduct background screenings on the volunteers.
But many other details, such as how chaplains are approved, will likely be determined by individual school districts that choose to implement such policies.
“As an educator, what I’ve learned is that different people relate to kids differently. And so not every child needs a cookie-cutter approach to getting support,” James said. “That doesn’t mean [chaplains] are going to solve the problem for everyone. But it may possibly be a place that someone could go that hasn’t found support previously.”
Just weeks after DeSantis signed the chaplain bill into law, James encouraged Marion County school staff to begin researching the legislation. A draft policy is now being finalized by the school district’s attorney, she said.
“It’s going to be on a board agenda, hopefully in September,” said James. “The board will review it, talk through it, and make sure that we all come to consensus with how we want to proceed.”
James believes any chaplain policy in Marion County schools will likely allow for one-on-one or small group counseling.
We have programs like FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] on our campuses already, which are student-led ministries,” said James. “So we are already bringing God into the classroom as much as we can. This is another opportunity to meet families where they are.”
Osceola County school board members were poised to vote on a chaplain policy Tuesday, but the decision was postponed to allow for further board discussion.
To read Osceola County’s proposed school chaplain policy, see below:
Osceola Chaplain Proposed Policy by Jacob Langston on Scribd
Chaplains “shall not proselytize or disparage any religion, belief, lack of belief, or faith group” under Osceola County’s proposed policy, which also states “a chaplain’s provision of care, help or counsel consistent with the chaplain’s beliefs or convictions… is not proselytization or disparagement.”
Osceola County’s two-page proposed policy does not specify who qualifies as chaplain.
The Satanic Temple, an organization that has previously filed lawsuits against states over laws it believes promotes religion, sent a letter to Osceola County school board members hours before their vote on the chaplain policy was tabled.
“While we believe that investing in licensed, professional counselors would be more beneficial for Osceola County students, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity this policy presents for our Ministers of Satan, who are eager to build positive, supportive relationships with students and become an active part of the school community,” wrote Rachel Chambliss, the group’s executive director.
DeSantis, who signed the chaplain bill at Osceola County’s Tohopekaliga High School in April, dismissed threats that Satanic Temple members would volunteer as school chaplains.
“Just understand, we’re not playing those games in Florida,” said DeSantis. “That is not a religion. That is not qualifying to be able to participate in this. We’re going to be using common sense.”
The bill signed by the governor does not specifically require school chaplains to be affiliated with a religion, nor does it mandate qualifications to volunteer as a chaplain.
DeSantis acknowledged the school chaplain bill will likely face legal challenges, possibly from the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU has not yet filed any lawsuits, but the civil rights organization argues Florida’s school chaplain law violates the First Amendment’s “Establishment Clause” prohibiting the government from establishing a religion.
“Courts have repeatedly ruled that it is unconstitutional for public schools to invite religious leaders to engage in religious activities with students or to promote religious doctrine to them,” wrote ACLU attorney Heather Weaver.
DeSantis has argued that banning chaplains from campus violates the U.S. Constitution.
“The First Amendment was enacted to be able to ensure that people weren’t discriminated against on the basis of religion or the basis of their faith,” said DeSantis.
James said she is not aware of any specific opposition from Marion County citizens about her school district’s proposal to authorize chaplains.
“I think it’s a really good thing that we’re prioritizing God in our classrooms,” said James. “Marion County represents a unique community that is pretty faith-driven. I’m sure there will be people that disagree. And that’s what’s great about parents having a choice. If they don’t want their child to participate in the chaplain program, they have every right to decide that.”
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: