WS/FCS ends practice of nonsecular prayer in school board meetings

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education has ended its practice of opening meetings with nonsecular prayer.

The move came after the district received a letter from the national nonprofit, Freedom From Religion Foundation. 

The organization asked that the board stop opening meetings with Christian prayers, and called the practice unconstitutional. 

In an email to WFDD, a spokesperson for the school district said the board disagreed with that claim, but did decide to start its meetings in other ways. 

Board Member Susan Miller, who had led the prayers previously, said this at the last meeting: 

“Our motivational quote for tonight is by Michael Jordan," she said. "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

The board may also offer a moment of silence, a secular prayer or other means of “setting the tone for a productive school board meeting."

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.