A Roy C. Ketcham High School student who challenged the Wappingers Central School District is being given a chance to start a religious club.
Daniela Barca, a 14-year-old freshman, was granted permission to start a Christian club days after a Texas-based law firm sent Superintendent Jose Carrion a letter outlining the legal ramifications of denying her request.
Approving the creation of the “OMG! Christian Club" will be on the on the Board of Education agenda at its Jan. 13 meeting, according to Keisha Russell a lawyer with First Liberty.
The dispute gained national attention from Fox News, as well as religious-based news sources, after First Liberty sent the letter to Wappingers on Dec. 11.
"I am so happy that school officials are going to allow us to start the club at school so we can support each other in our beliefs," Barca said in a release from First Liberty.
Officials from the Wappingers district did not return Journal requests for comment.
The First Liberty organization is "dedicated exclusively to defending and restoring religious liberty," according to its site.
The letter claimed that by denying Barca the district was in violation of the Equal Access Act of 1984. Russell said the district replied to the letter the same day it was sent. She said her firm was in contact with the district for several days regarding internal procedures needed for Barca to bring the club in front of the board.
"I think that this kind of thing happens more often than we think," said Russell. "When you think about Daniela's bravery at 14, we have to fight for our rights and I think most students would have given up."
Until it is approved, club members cannot congregate.
Before starting at the high school as a freshman, Barca reached out to a special education teacher to ask her to be a sponsor for the club, according to First Liberty.
The teacher said in a reply email that she was "open to the idea" and needed to look into what paperwork was required. Barca replied that she wanted the club to be a space for "discussions about living for God in a godless society, and maybe end in prayer."
The letter claims that "federal law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent" require the high school to approve the application to start the club. However, Principal David Seipp told Barca in person that her club couldn't be recognized because "it would be seen as exclusive," according to the letter to Carrion.
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According to First Liberty, her application to start the club was allegedly lost for more than three months. Barca's father reached out to Assistant Superintendent Daren Lolkema on Oct. 3 to ask why his daughter's club was denied. Lolkema replied by stating the high school pays a teacher to advise clubs. "It is under this premise that we cannot support a club with such specific religious purpose."
Barca presented the club as a space for a group to engage in prayer for "school safety, increased kindness and compassion for each other, hope for those hurting..." She added in the application that the club could do community service through, but not limited to, food and clothing drives.
Lolkema also said the club couldn't be officially recognized unless it was "unbiased to any and all religions," according to the First Liberty. However, Russell called this "unlawful."
Lolkema also suggested in his email that the club could meet informally after school. The letter states this is an "unlawful sidestep" to the law.
"By singling out religious clubs and providing them inferior access to school resources than that provided to other non-curricular groups, the district shows a hostility to religion that violates the First Amendment," Russell said.
Ryan Santistevan: rsantistev@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @NewsByRyan_. Katelyn Cordero: kcordero@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4870; Twitter: @KatelynCordero
2019-12-23 11:00:00Z
https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2019/12/23/wappingers-allows-ketcham-freshman-propose-religious-club/2684764001/
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