The school board voted 3 to 2 to put the Ten Commandments back up in the schools. The board said this is its "final decision" on the issue. It's a major victory for Ten Commandment supporters.
The board adopted a proposal that puts the Ten Commandments as one part of a historical display. Nine other historical documents will be displayed alongside the Ten Commandments. A local attorney presented the historical display to the school board, as a "legal-way" to keep them in county schools, two months ago.
The displays will all be paid for and maintained by private money. The principal of each school will determine the appropriate place for the display to be hung.
Board members R.B. Whitehead, J.M Gollehan and J.B. Buckland voted to put the Ten Commandments back in the schools.
Board members Drema McMahon and J.L. Webb voted against the proposal.
“This issue, in my thinking, is an issue where my heart tells me one thing and my mind tells me something else,” said Dr. J.L. Webb after the vote. “Personally, I feel this issue violates our Constitution, as it has been over turned many times by the Supreme Court.”
“We do not have the money to fight this battle to the Supreme Court,” said Drema McMahon, in explaining why she voted against the measure. “Our teachers and our staff continue to do an outstanding job even though they have not had a raise in four years, and we're talking about $350,000, if this goes to the Supreme Court.”
The three school board members, who voted to put the display in the schools, said they made their decision only after pledges from private citizens to financially back the proposal.
"You have my word, my spiritual, physical and financial resources will be behind you, if you all vote affirmative on this measure," pledged Giles Co. resident Charlie Henderson.
Both the ACLU and the Freedom From Religion Foundation told the school board last week that they would sue if the Ten Commandments went back up in county schools.
Liberty Counsel will represent Giles County schools in any future lawsuits.
There were about 40 people in attendance for Tuesday's vote.
--------------
The Ten Commandments are going back up in Giles County schools.
The school board voted 3-2 to put the Ten Commandments up in a historical context.
News7's Karen Kiley will have the details on News7 at 5 & 6.
-------------
The Giles County school board faces a tough decision this week.
The board is contemplating whether or not to re-hang the Ten Commandments on the walls of county schools.
The school board took them down after it was threatened with a lawsuit.
A local attorney argued the Ten Commandments could be on school walls, if they were displayed in a historical context.
The school board is expected to vote Tuesday afternoon, on whether or not to put up the historical display.
News7's Karen Kiley will have the outcome of the vote on News7 at 5 & 6.
