Religious prayer at McGuffey School Board draws public comment and mentions of ACLU, FFRF

Casey McFarland, a resident of Franklin Township, told the McGuffey School Board that the use of prayer in public board meetings can exclude members of minority faiths and said outside civil‑liberties groups had been contacted. "I know that the Freedom for Religion Foundation has been contacted. The ACLU has now been also introduced into this," McFarland said during the public‑comment period.

McFarland asked the board to consider how a prayer invoking a particular faith might feel to Muslim or Jewish families and urged the board to treat the meeting space as inclusive. He said he had filed a right‑to‑no request and that the matter "was not done unanimously," and cautioned the board the issue would not disappear without public attention.

Other public commenters offered contrasting views. Vicky Jordan of Buffalo Township said she supports opening meetings with a religious prayer and said organizations exist that will defend that right pro bono. "Until [Congress] quit opening their meetings with religious prayer, then maybe that should be the time to reevaluate what we are doing. Until then, I believe we should continue beginning our meetings with a religious prayer," Jordan said. She added she will continue pushing for parental consent for student participation in clubs and for regular parent surveys about coaches.

Jessica Pugh offered community praise during public comment, encouraging residents to follow district social posts and commending principals for work that boosts school pride.

Board members did not take formal action on the prayer question during the meeting. A board member noted the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU had been contacted, and another member said the district had received a "right to no request," but no legal or policy change was proposed at this session. The board clerk noted the public‑comment matter will remain part of the public record and be available for any follow‑up by the board or its solicitor.