The handful of parents attending the Sturgeon School Division's board meeting Wednesday were disappointed they were not allowed to express their concerns about the recitation of the Lord's Prayer in Sturgeon Heights School.
"I find it insulting that they did not acknowledge our right to speak," said Luke Fevin, whose children attend kindergarten and Grade 3 classes at the school located on Hogan Road.
Fevin, Mike Gaalaas and Scott Fuhr put up their hands asking to be acknowledged by the board. All requests were refused.
"Our board meetings are not interactive. We do allow guests to speak, but they have to let the superintendent know in advance that they wish to do so," said Superintendent Michelle Dick, who explained in a later interview that a formal process of application must be made by anyone wishing to speak at a meeting.
"We will make an appointment for you to speak if you provide something in writing, which you present first to the board. Or, if you do not expect an answer you can speak verbally. Then the board will take what you present into consideration, deliberate and respond accordingly," Dick said.
But Fevin found the formal approval structure to be confusing because parents spoke freely at the last meeting held at the end of October.
"There were 10 or 12 presentations by parents then," he said.
Policy discussions
Wednesday's meeting agenda was heavy with nine different reports submitted by Sturgeon administration staff for the board's discussion. Among the many items were revisions to Policy F/I/6 that specifically refers to items of a religious nature in Sturgeon District schools.
"Previously we had one policy to cover the Lord's Prayer, religious instruction and religious themes. As a result of discussions at our October meeting, that has been revised and split into three new proposed policies," Dick explained, adding that she and the deputy superintendent have been revising the policy.
"What was presented Wednesday night was a draft for the board's consideration. Now there will be another draft that will be presented at the next public meeting," she said.
Dick stressed that the policy revisions will not be hurried and that further meetings and discussions may lead to yet another draft.
It's a process that Gaalaas finds frustrating.
"I guess I'll have to book time off work," he said.
Gaalaas' children attend Namao Elementary School, and do not recite the Lord's Prayer. He attended Wednesday's meeting because he is concerned that district-wide policy changes may allow for the introduction of a Christian element at all Sturgeon schools.
"I felt I had to make a stand," he said, adding that his concerns are larger than the recitation of the prayer. "Last Christmas, at the concert, the children held Baby Jesus and talked about sacrifice. Yet I have chosen to send my children to a public school."
Fevin and parent Tracy Green hoped to raise concerns at the board meeting about the recent Thanksgiving celebrations at Sturgeon Heights School, which they found to be very Christian in nature.
The agenda for the Thanksgiving program listed a message from Father Andrew from St. Albert Catholic Parish as well as closing prayers by him. In addition the children sang two religious hymns, Green said.
"I want my children to get a proper education without religious influences," Green said.
Fevin said his little girl was going through the house singing, "If I were a butterfly I'd thank you Lord for wings," which was one of the songs chosen for the celebration. Fevin admitted he had an "opt out" form so that his children did not have to attend the ceremonies, but asks how, as a parent he could force them not to go.
"What were my choices? Was I to tell my little girl, 'No you don't get to go to the Thanksgiving celebration. You have to sit in a separate room," Fevin said.
Having children sit out or opt out of religious instruction or prayers can lead to children feeling ostracized, Green said.
"Last year my oldest child started to sit down during the recitation of the Lord's Prayer. That was not my choice. It was his choice and his point of view. He respected their right to pray and chose to sit down. But I was asked to write a letter giving him permission to sit out of the prayer. I thought I sent him to a public school where he was equal," she said.
No parents were present Wednesday who advocated for the recitation of the Lord's Prayer.
The next Sturgeon School Division board meeting will take place Nov. 23 beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Sturgeon Composite School.
