Buncombe reviews religious material policy

[rug]

Buncombe requires 'community event' to include religious organizations

10:11 PM, Dec 4, 2012
Written by Casey Blake

ASHEVILLE — Buncombe County Schools will let faith groups distribute religious materials as part of a new regulation addressing months of debate and controversy over the issue.

The new regulation requires that each of the county’s six high schools facilitate events that “make available written materials” from religious and nonreligious community organizations.

“For one day each school year, each high school shall facilitate a community information event and allow community organizations, including religious organizations, to participate in the event,” the regulation says.

The intent is to allow groups offering services to children and families a chance to distribute information about their organization. The event would be held after normal school hours.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20121205/NEWS/312050041/County-public-schools-allow-faith-groups?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

[dimbear]

1. Let's hope their literature has a lot of local content. Don't we all want it to be

Buncombe filled?

[Adsos Letter]

3. LOL

A lot of buncombe.

[Adsos Letter]

2. I found this bit interesting...

Board Chairman Bob Rhinehart, who supported the new event proposal in November, said the goal was to strike a compromise between those on the board’s advisory committee of faith leaders who expressed strong feelings on both sides of the issue.

I'd be curious to know what those "strong feelings on both sides of the issue were." Sounds like the faith leaders aren't all on board with this.

In the Comments section there are a couple of links to televised portions of the Buncombe County School Board meeting where the new regulation was presented:

Here's a link to the public comment section of the 12.3.12 BC School Board meeting, In this section there is much commentary on the religion in schools issue. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/27483510
Then the Agenda section where Dr. Baldwin clarifies his position on the religion issue. This is at 1:02 in the timeline.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/27483510

Perhaps the video will provide some insight into the pro's and con's expressed by the faith leaders.