by Nicole Bradford
Alvin ISD school board members this month added a recently passed state law into its policies, allowing chaplains to counsel students on a volunteer basis.
Passed in May of this year, SB-763 permits religious chaplains to either volunteer in public schools or work in schools using safety funds. Opponents of the law have said it allows proselytizing in public schools without the consent of parents, while supporters say religious chaplains could prevent school shootings, drug use, and other issues.
“I love the idea of faith-based volunteers in our schools, but it’s the intent behind the bill that I want to have discussion on and clarify,” Trustee Regan Metoyer-Peterson told the board on Dec. 12. “From my understanding, SB-763 was to help school districts that were having a hard time staffing counselors. I don’t believe that’s an issue in our school district.”
Managing of chaplains will be at the district level — meaning campus principals will not be managing this process, Metoyer-Peterson said.
Superintendent Carol Nelson agreed this does not mean religious chaplains would be installed on campuses.
“The intent here would be that the principal would reach out to student services if there was sort of trauma or they were asking for assistance from faith-based (persons),” Nelson said. “It wouldn’t necessarily have to be a chaplain. It could be a youth pastor, any faith-based is what we currently use for volunteers.”
The scenario is not a new one, she said: Volunteers have stepped in when tragedies affect students or teachers.
“We have always reached out,” Nelson said. “We also have Fellowship of Christian Athletes on our campuses, and at times, we have faith-based leaders who come and speak to those groups.”
Although the law permits it, Alvin ISD won’t use safety funds to hire chaplains.
“We already have unfunded mandates from the state that present some challenges to the budget,” Nelson said. “Alvin ISD is open to partnering and allowing faith-based people to come in with the parents’ permission as well. Parents have to be part of the process and be part of their child’s education.”
