School District Repeals Policy Against Christian Youth Group
A Christian youth group in Northern California can now meet freely on school grounds, thanks to a lawsuit filed against the Chico Unified School District in April.
A Christian youth group in Northern California can now meet freely on school grounds, thanks to a lawsuit filed against the Chico Unified School District in April.
Last month, the school district repealed a procedure that had forced the Good News Club – a branch of the national Child Evangelism Fellowship – to pay for using school facilities.
The District charges higher facilities usage fees to religious groups than to secular groups. When CEF requested to use rooms after school hours for youth gatherings, the District advised the elementary school to charge fees that other youth groups – such as the boys and girl’s scouts – are exempted from. Although the CEF briefly paid the fees, the higher costs eventually forced the Good News Club to stop meeting.
In April 2005, the Liberty Counsel filed suit in a federal district court in Sacramento challenging the constitutionality of the District policy.
Last month, the District responded to the lawsuit by repealing a procedural policy that placed the Good News Club under the religious groups category, and refunded fee payments to the CEF.
Mary Leary, the district’s Director of maintenance operations and transportation, said higher fees-policy still applies to religious groups. However, she said the district recognized the Club was not holding a religious service.
“They are a youth group, and we didn’t know they were holding youth gatherings,” Leary told the Christian Post Friday. “We charge groups that hold religious services, and we were applying them to that category.
“But we changed the procedures and added them to the youth group category because they asked us to,” Leary added. “We felt that was the right thing to do.”
Following the procedural change, Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, said he is “pleased.”
“It is unfortunate that takes a federal lawsuit to get the attention of school officials,” said Staver. “Good News Clubs have a proven track record of providing an inspirational and positive environment for elementary students. Every elementary school in American ought to have a Good News Club.”
