School boards may ditch 'prayer'

OREM — The words "opening prayer" may soon be nixed from school-board meeting agendas in favor of the less-controversial term "opening remarks."

The semantics is important to critics of prayer at public and government meetings. And the change in terminology means that in addition to prayer, poetry, inspirational quotations and excerpts from literature would be acceptable at the outset of meetings during which elected officials and educators discuss the operation and oversight of Utah's schools.

The Utah State Office of Education sent a letter to school districts in December, suggesting that the locally elected school boards create public-prayer policies to make sure they are not violating the Utah Constitution and the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The letter from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington urged school board members to consider using phrases on public meeting agendas that seem more neutral than "opening prayer" or "invocation."

For example, according to the letter, introductory remarks at the outset of board meetings could be described on agendas as "opening remarks," a time of "reverence" or "welcoming remarks."

The letter also tells school boards that, according to legal advice, school boards can establish a policy that permits only board members to give opening remarks.

But if a board doesn't limit the opening-remark time to only members of the panel, all people should be extended the opportunity to pray or give remarks at the outset of the meeting.

If that is the case, selection of the person should not be discriminatory, and no restrictions should be imposed on content, the letter states.

Some of Utah's districts do not have to consider changing practice or policy regarding prayer because they don't open public meetings in such a manner.

Others are heeding the suggestions.

The Provo School District Board of Education intends to strike the word "invocation" to mark the beginning of meetings, says Superintendent Randy Merrill.

"It will be changing to 'opening remark,' " he said.

Others believe they already operate within separation-of-church-and-state guidelines.

Nebo School District's attorney has determined a change at its board meetings is not necessary.

"We don't have any policy. But our practice is to have an invocation, and it's designated just for the school board members. What invocation actually means is to invoke help or support. It doesn't necessarily mean a prayer," said Lana Hiskey, Nebo's spokeswoman.