Board Lets Religious Meetings Continue At Elementary

The Whitepine School Board has decided to allow religious meetings to continue at the local elementary school, despite residents’ fears that the decision could lead to a lawsuit.

“You don’t understand what you’ve done,” trustee Lida Saskova-Lark told fellow board members after the decision. “We can be sued by everyone now.”

“No,” Superintendent Harold Ott snapped after trying to explain the policy for several minutes. “You’re the one who doesn’t understand, ma’am.”

At issue during a special meeting last weekend was whether the Northwest Evangelism Institute should be allowed to continue a series of “Revelation ‘97 Prophesy Seminars” at the school.

Principal Karen Nelson mistakenly approved the Troy Seventh-day Adventist Church’s request to use the building without getting school board approval. The district does not ban religious groups from using the school but does require that requests come before the board.

Saskova-Lark said she received a number of calls from angry patrons after the seminars were announced in a recent flier.

The church reportedly expected a large turnout and wanted to use the stage in the school’s multipurpose room. But Saskova-Lark rejected the idea.

Saskova-Lark was further upset when she found out the district was not charging the group for using the building.

“You mean we, the taxpayers, are just donating the electricity to this religious group?” she asked. “So we’re helping support this?”

Ott said a clause in the district’s rental policy states that building administrators can waive the fee for local groups. The trustees voted 4-1 to start charging a standard $50-per-night fee.