By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
Individual prayer, as it is currently allowed throughout the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, will continue, but not as defined by the 89th Texas Legislature’s Senate Bill 11, which would have changed the manner in which school is taught for future generations.
The SBCISD Board of Trustees reached this conclusion by a unanimous vote after voting no on “SB 11 resolution regarding period prayer and reading of Bible or other religious text” during their regular Feb. 11 meeting in the John F. Barron Administration Building.
The trustees had until March 1 to decide in accordance with SB 11.
“Trustee Crystal Hernandez said that students already have the ability to pray, practice, and read the Bible and are protected by federal law.”
She said that an added burden would be placed on staff and was concerned about the logistics it would cause.
She said there would be a lot of consent and staff to document if SB 11 were enacted.
“It’s going to be a lot of additional work on staff, so I am motioning not to adopt Senate Bill 11,” Trustee Hernandez said.
Trustee Israel Villarreal III seconded the motion.
During the meeting, Board President Dr. Ariel Cruz-Vela explained what a record vote meant. She told them that a motion had to be made to adopt or decline to adopt the resolution in support of SB 11. All board members were present, and each voted no when their name was called.
Superintendent Fred Perez opened the item by explaining to the trustees what they were voting on.
Supt. Perez read the background information he prepared for the public to hear.
SB 11 is a statute that allows a school board to permit “every campus or school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts on each school day in accordance with the law.”
He added that each school board member, upon deciding, “didn’t have to adopt a daily prayer period, but it does have to vote by March 1 on whether to adopt a resolution on the matter.”
Supt. Perez said there is already a law regarding prayer at school.
“Importantly, existing federal and state law already protects every student’s right to pray voluntarily and prohibits coercion.”
He said SB 11 doesn’t create that right but instead creates an optional district-run program that would establish a daily period of prayer with specific implementation and requirements.
Board President Cruz-Vela reiterated what Trustee Hernandez said and echoed Supt. Perez’s statement as well.
She said the school district will continue to safeguard a student’s constitutional rights.
“We still allow voluntary prayer and prohibit coercion, which allows us to focus district resources on instruction and student support,” she said. “Nothing changes regarding a student’s individual religious freedom.”
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