LGISD Board Declines To Opt Into New State Oversight on Prayer

The Board of Trustees of La Grange ISD, at last Monday’s meeting, voted to not adopt a resolution establishing daily prayer time in school as it pertains to new Senate Bill 11.

Superintendent Andy McHazlett gave the board reasons why he felt they should not adopt a resolution designating a daily prayer time.

“Nothing prohibits a public school student from voluntarily praying at any time during the school day,’” McHazlett said. “Any time during the school day is what’s key there. So, if we adopt Senate Bill 11, we have to designate a prayer time. The other caveat is if we adopt Senate Bill 11, then we have to ask parents to give up their constitutional right by waiver of written consent, waiving their right to challenge potential violations of the establishment clause, a foundational protection that prevents the government from establishing or endorsing religion.

“I have a hard time asking families to waive this right, because this protected under the Bill of Rights.”

He stated that his other concern was that the district would have to segregate the students. The students who sign up for it (the prayer time) will have to be put in areas different from where the students who did not sign up for it or not close by.

He continued, “I think that causes all kinds of problems. So because of all these things, because of our guaranteed right, our students and staff currently have under not only our First Amendment, but also of the Texas Education Code.”

Here is some background on the bill: Senate Bill 11 from the 89th Legislative Session added Texas Education Code section 25.0823, which allows school boards to designate time each school day at every campus for students and employees to pray and read the Bible or other religious texts. The bill requires that within six months of the effective date (by March 1, 2026), each district’s board must take a record yote either to establish the daily prayer time and reading of religious texts by adopting the resolution set out in the new statute or to decline to establish the daily prayer time.

Administration also received correspondence from Texas Faith Leaders regarding Senate Bill 11 (SB 11) and affirming students’ existing rights to pray and engage in religious expression at school, while opposing prayer organized or directed by the state.