School Board Settles Suit With Christian Rock Bank

Today's Toledo Blade reports that the Rossford, Ohio school board yesterday voted 3-1 to settle a lawsuit that had been brought against it by four of the members of a Christian rock band whose performance at a high school anti-drug assembly was cancelled by the school superintendent. (See prior posting.) The superintendent was concerned that the performance might be seen as promoting of religion. The trial court upheld the superintendent, but when the band appealed to the 6th Circuit, the board decided to give up the fight. (See prior posting.) The settlement provides that the trial court's decision-- and thus the precedent it sets-- will be vacated and the school board will amend its policy on school-sponsored productions to provide that "neither the board nor any teacher or administrator may disfavor or discourage a district-sponsored or school-sponsored publication or production on an otherwise suitable topic merely because of the speaker’s status or reputation for holding or advocating a particular religious belief or perspective." However, the settlement does not provide for the band to perform at Rossford High School. The suit is complicated by the fact that School Board President David Kleeberger's son is a member of the rock band, though he was not one of the plaintiffs. (See prior posting.)