.png)
Last week, Dripping Springs ISD became the latest area school district to decline to implement Senate Bill 11 (SB 11), also known as the “Protecting the Freedom to Pray in Schools” act. SB 11 allows public schools and charter schools to provide a daily prayer period for students and employees, during which they could pray or read religious texts.
The Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees heard public comments on the issue during its Feb. 23 meeting. Five individuals addressed the board, all asking that the district not adopt the optional measure.
Kathy Thomas introduced herself as a tax-paying community member and parent of a 2019 Dripping Springs High School graduate. She said in her family, they taught faith at home and in church.
“Having grown up in a town where most of the people were actually a different denomination, I got the pressure that I needed to be a different religion,” Thomas said. “It got so bad, my mother had to go to the school board about it. We don’t want kids to feel that kind of pressure.”
Thomas said the school board should protect students’ education by not taking away more time from their educational minutes, and protect their right to belong without being made to feel different because of their faith or lack thereof.
“Let the parents and faith communities they choose continue to be the primary teachers of their children when it comes to faith, and respect those who don’t subscribe to a particular faith, but teach that ethical behavior at home,” Thomas said. “Honestly, some of the kindest people I know don’t belong to a church.”
Tori Haltom, a parent of DISD students, also asked that the school board respect her family’s religious freedom.
“In light of the continued federal and state aggressions on religious freedom and public education, I’m asking you all to maintain a clear separation of church and state,” Haltom said. “Senate Bill 11 and similar measures are an outright infringement on my rights and those of my family.”
Haltom said she provides at-home, age-appropriate information to her kids regarding religions around the world, and teaches her children how to be respectful of the beliefs of loved ones and neighbors.
Another speaker weighing in on the issue was Mary Fox, who identified herself as a recently retired school principal and candidate for House district 73. She also urged the board to reject the option to require schools to implement a dedicated time for religious practices.
“Students already have the opportunity to pray and reflect during the moment of silence each day,” Fox said. “Students and staff may pray, reflect, and read religious materials throughout the school day already, as long as they don’t interrupt instruction or coerce others to participate.”
Fox said that students and district employees can also pray or read religious texts before and after school, during lunch, and when classwork or tests are completed.
Kelly Metzger, parent of a Dripping Springs senior, also spoke against SB 11.
“Our students have rights under our constitution. The right to practice a religion or no religion includes all people, not just citizens, not just grown-ups,” Metzger said. “Trustees on this board, hopefully in their wisdom, will maintain the rights of all the parents in the district who want to guide their children’s religious upbringing as they see fit.”
The last public speaker was parent Natalie Kemp, who also urged the trustees to vote no on establishing a formal period of prayer and reading of religious texts for district employees and students.
“These rights already exist and are protected under current law,” Kemp said. “Creating an official district sanctioned prayer period does not expand religious freedom. It simply creates new administrative responsibility and legal risk for our district.”
Metzger also said the policy also risks creating division among both staff and students, between those who participate and those who do not.
“Public schools should be environments where all individuals, regardless of religious belief or non-belief, feel equally respected, safe, and included,” Kemp said.
After the public comments, the trustees continued through their agenda, and then adjourned to a closed session, as permitted by Texas legislative code, to address several agenda items. Upon their return, they addressed the issue of SB 11.
“We just came out of our closed session conversation around this, a consultation with our attorney,” trustee Rob McClellan said. “Obviously, lots to be considered here.”
McClellan said that prior to a motion, he wanted to review the points that were included in Resolution 2026-10.
“The motion we’re about to hear is going to essentially decline to adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district to provide a period of prayer and reading of religious texts for students and employees,” McClellan said. “That being said, the board acknowledges and respects the rights of students and employees to engage in religious expression, prayer, and reading of religious texts at school, as enshrined in the United States Constitution.”
The resolution also affirmed that a public school student has the absolute right to individually, voluntarily, and silently pray or meditate in school in a manner that does not disrupt the instructional or other activities of the school.
“Lastly, the board directs the superintendent to continue to take efforts to protect the ability for our students and employees to exercise these rights without discrimination or retaliation,” McClellan said.
With that, McClellan turned it over to trustee Kim Cousins.
“I move to approve Resolution 2026-10, finding that it is in the best interest of the district to decline to adopt a policy requiring every campus to provide time for prayer and reading of religious texts,” Cousins said.
The motion was seconded by Mary Jean Hetrick, and passed unanimously by a vote of 6-0.
Other nearby districts that have so far declined to implement SB 11 include Wimberley ISD, Hays ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Lockhart ISD, Bastrop ISD, San Marcos CISD and Blanco ISD.
