Church Wins Settlement In Challenge of School Flyer Distribution Policy

Last week, a settlement was reached in a Florida federal district court case in which a church challenged the Collier County (FL) school board's policy that precluded it from handing out to students flyers about the church's Vacation Bible School. (See prior posting.) The Stipulated Dismissal (full text) in Cypress Wood Presbyterian Church v. School Board of Collier County, Florida, (MD FL, Nov. 20, 2009), recites that the school board has agreed to give plaintiffs equal access with other community groups to distribute flyers and post information. Also, the school board has amended its flyer distribution policy to eliminate the requirement that flyers relating to religious activities not contain proselytizing messages or overtly advocate support for a religious organization. Alliance Defense Fund on Wednesday issued a release announcing the settlement.