Over the objection of one valedictorian, both high schools in the Cache County School District will have prayer during their graduation ceremonies this year.
Carol Funk, school board president, said prayer will be in the graduation programs at Sky View and Mountain Crest high schools this year, but the board has not decided what to do about the issue on a long-term basis.Funk said the district has invited the American Civil Liberties union to meet with the board and discuss the issue, and a meeting has been set for June 12.
"We want to hear their side, and we hope they will listen to ours," she said Thursday.
Greg Kinzer of North Logan, co-valedictorian at Sky View, expressed disappointment with the decision.
Kinzer said he has met with Superintendent Clark Puffer and was invited to attend the meeting with the ACLU.
"I was told by the superintendent that he did not want to get in a position of confrontation with parents who favor prayer right now, but there will be further discussions on the issue later," he said.
Kinzer said being a non-Mormon at Sky View has been difficult and he has felt alienated when Mormon-type prayers have been given on many occasions, such as in band, at honors awards and at most competitive events.
"I have been trying to make these people aware that there is a need to have a little more respect for minorities," he said.
Kinzer said some faculty members at the school have been trying to come up with a non-sectarian prayer and are considering copying one given at congressional sessions.
The Logan school district has decided to omit prayer but to have a moment of silence at its ceremony.