School Board Settles Suit, Agreeing Not To Hold Graduation In Church

The Enfield, Connecticut School Board voted 6-3 on Wednesday night to settle a lawsuit brought against it by the ACLU and Americans United challenging its holding graduation exercises in a Christian church. (See prior posting.) The Hartford Courant reports that under the settlement, the school board agrees not to hold future graduations at First Cathedral and will pay an undisclosed portion of plaintiffs' $1 million in legal fees. The school board's insurer will cover up to $470,000 of the settlement. Board member Jennifer Rancourt, who voted in favor of the settlement said: "If it is something that offends a few people, then we have to respect that." Board member Kevin Fealy, one of the 3 who voted against the settlement, said: "Deep pockets with nothing to lose have the opportunity to push us into a corner."