KIRTLAND, Ohio — Kirtland refers to itself as "the city of faith and beauty." But now there’s a First Amendment dispute happening as a parent alleges the school district has blurred the lines between church and state by promoting religion inside its athletic programs.
Kirtland High School has a storied football program. The Hornets are known as a powerhouse team across the region, having won several state championships over the years. But now the team is facing scrutiny over rituals that have come with the success.
One parent has sent their complaint to the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), saying pregame and postgame prayers are a step too far.
"The football coach knew prayer was going on – he was leading prayer," says Karen Heinemen, a legal fellow with FFRF. "What does the school know? Does the football coach understand that he’s acting in an official capacity as a government official essentially?"
The FFRF provided us with a photo showing players and coaches from Kirtland and Ottawa Glandorf participating in a prayer following a playoff football game. But under the U.S. Constitution, public schools cannot endorse or promote religion in any form.
Heinemen's organization sent a letter to both schools detailing the issue at hand.
"This was retweeted on an official Kirtland sports twitter site. And that turns it into an official or a government statement when they’re retweeting something," Heineman explains.
The letter says Kirtland head coach Tiger LaVerde leads the team in pregame prayers and refers to a football pep rally where a priest was allowed to give a sermon and prayer.
"All of these separately are an issue. And together definitely. We took this seriously. These are constitutional violations, adds Heineman.
Kirtland may indeed be the city of faith and beauty. The Mormon community was headquartered here nearly two centuries ago. But even in a town with religious roots, FFRF says it has to stay out of schools.
"Look at it from the other side. You don’t believe in prayer, you’re not Christian, you have a student who has to sit there and take part in this. And that’s not fair and they’re protected," Heineman explains.
3News reached out to both schools involved. FFRF confirmed during our interview that Ottawa Glandorf has already talked to coaches to make sure that it doesn't happen again - and they're satisfied with that outcome. But FFRF is still waiting on a formal response from Kirtland.
Kirtland Superintendent Chad VanArnhem told 3News in a statement, “The Kirtland Local Schools takes its legal obligations seriously under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In that vein, the District complies with the requirements set forth in the Establishment Clause; it has not, does not, and will not adopt any policy or rule respecting or promoting an establishment of religion. The District has investigated the claims and took action to ensure that it continues to meet the parameters of the Establishment Clause.”
We asked what those actions were, but have not heard back.
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