Update: North Carolina School Board Tables Religious Literature Issue

May 10, 2006

Source: The Brunswick Beacon

http://www.brunswickbeacon.com/articles/2006/05/10/free/03-free.txt

On May 10, 2006 The Brunswick Beacon reported, "Expecting a vote on the second reading of a controversial religious materials policy, the people who crowded into the lobby of the Brunswick County Board of Education administrative offices last Thursday were surprised when the school board voted to table the decision.

Soon after shooting down board member Ray Gilbert's motion to approve the second reading, the board voted to table the issue, with board member Jimmy Hobbs saying he was not going to back away from a policy that would allow Bibles but that the board needed to heed legal advice and come up with a different policy.

Last month, the board voted 3-2 on the first reading of a policy that would allow religious materials in schools. Milligan and board member Willie Gore voted against the policy, stating that it would open up the schools to influences not approved by parents... Board members met in closed session for two hours before the meeting to receive legal counsel from the N.C. School Boards Association, and according to board Chairman Scott Milligan, they learned that the policy proposed at last month's meeting does not conform to the only court decision that allows materials to be distributed."