Osceola County School Board votes down on volunteer chaplain program

Update:

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The Osceola County School Board ultimately voted down a motion by school board member John Arguello to get the program started in the district.

Osceola County School Board votes down on volunteer chaplain program The Osceola County School Board ultimately voted down a motion by school board member John Arguello to get the program started in the district. (WFTV)

Previous story:

The Osceola County School Board will once again discuss whether to establish a volunteer school chaplain program.

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The discussion comes after the state passed a bill, HB 931, which went into effect July 1, that allows school districts to establish the program.

The board paused the plan after receiving First Amendment concerns and after the Satanic Temple expressed interest in the program.

Under the new state law, schools statewide are now considering whether to establish a volunteer chaplain program.

Read: Florida House signs off on school chaplains

According to the state, each program would authorize spiritual advisers to guide students with their parent’s permission.

Last week, the Florida Department of Education released a model policy for school boards to consider.

It defines the meaning of words like religion as they relate to school chaplain eligibility.

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The Florida Education Commissioner said this policy “ensures that credible chaplains can volunteer in Florida’s schools.”

Experts said the language would likely exclude the Satanic Temple.

Meanwhile, the Florida chapter of American Atheists believes that if school districts like Osceola County adopt the policy, state law will likely face a First Amendment challenge.

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“I think this was written to be exclusionary,” said Devon Graham with American Atheists.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. for the latest developing story.

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