Facing Satanists, First Amendment concerns, Florida school board punts on chaplain policy

A Florida school board has voted against a chaplain policy for a second time , and even a Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed member said more time was needed to address legal concerns.

DeSantis has signed and vocally supported a new law that gives public schools the OK to allow chaplain services for students. This week's move by the Osceola County School Board is further evidence of local leaders' wariness in doing so when faced with threatened First Amendment fights — and satanic chaplains.

"I 100% agree with the chaplain program, but I do understand there's a lot of concerns up here," said Scott Ramsey , who DeSantis appointed to the school board. He ultimately voted in favor of the program.

"I'd like to ask staff if they could send a survey to the school administrators and teachers on how we can apply this in our policy when we rewrite it," Ramsey said.

The school board also temporarily pulled its consideration of the program earlier in August, after getting last-minute emails expressing constitutional concerns — and interest from The Satanic Temple .

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of The Satanic Temple, spoke during the Tuesday meeting's public comment period. He criticized the policy but pledged his group would make sure it had chaplains participating if it was implemented.

"You're voting on a policy that is unpopular, divisive, poorly planned, obviously dishonest in its goals, unnecessary, and introduces new risks to children, even if you are allowed to implement it," Greaves said . "The reality is, you'll have to accommodate religious identities you may not agree with. You will end up with Satanist chaplains."

The Satanic Temple is an IRS-recognized religious group, but its adherents do not necessarily worship Satan. It's known for its advocacy for the First Amendment and religious freedom and even warned Florida lawmakers that it planned to participate in any programs if they passed the chaplain legislation.

DeSantis has vowed that Satanists would be excluded from participation. If that happens, it would likely lead to First Amendment litigation.

Public comment at Tuesday's meeting lasted more than an hour. While those against the chaplain policy outnumbered those in support, emotions flared on both sides. And the school board itself wasn't immune, with one conservative member repeatedly insulting his colleagues.

"Wow, if that's the way you fight for your community, I'd hate to see the way you fight for your family in need," said Jon Arguello, who recently lost a Republican primary for a state Senate seat, right after Ramsey's remarks.

Ramsey, who will be in a November school board runoff election , said in a phone interview that he had no comment on that: "I'm there to serve the students, teachers, staff and citizens of Osceola County in a respectful manner."

"At the end of the day, they're the ones that have to do it," Ramsey continued, explaining his survey request. "I just want (the policy) to be more airtight, to keep us out of lawsuits. ... If a parent wants their child to speak to any religious affiliate ... they have that right."

The law allows volunteer chaplains to provide support services for public K-12 students. It requires parental consent before a student meets with a chaplain, who must undergo a background check. It also mandates that districts publish a list of the chaplains on their websites and for school principals to inform parents about them.

The rest of the rollout is left to local school officials – if they choose to have a program.

But last week the Florida Department of Education released a model school chaplain policy . It was immediately met with opposition and questions over its constitutionality, including from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and The Satanic Temple. Greaves said it would exclude satanists as well as Buddhists, Humanists and other groups.

Arguello, who'll be off the board when new members are sworn in later in the year, said he would try to get the state model adopted at the next meeting. "This is a purely volunteer process," he said . "No student is going to be force-fed any thought of religion or anything else."

But Heather Kahoun, the board chair, said more discussion was needed on the policy. "I have my own ideas on how we think we can implement this," Kahoun said . "What I'd like to do is workshop this and do this through rule-making."

DeSantis had signed the chaplain measure at a high school in Osceola County, during a press conference where the superintendent himself spoke in support.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Facing Satanists, First Amendment concerns, Florida school board punts on chaplain policy