A southwest Missouri school district has agreed to stop offering an official prayer during staff meetings after concerns were raised this fall.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a nonprofit watchdog committed to the separation of church and state, took action after reports that a local pastor recited a “prayer over the loudspeaker” during the Aug. 13 all-staff assembly in the Bolivar school district.
The foundation sent a letter Sept. 11 to new superintendent Michael Methvin. He was previously the executive director of middle and K-8 schools for Springfield Public Schools.
At the time, Methvin confirmed the prayer was held during the Welcome Back Staff Celebration meeting a week before the first day of class.
He said the meeting covered a range of topics, including construction updates, resources available to teachers and the welcoming of new employees. According to the district, it is the only staff meeting where a prayer is given.
In a news release Wednesday, the foundation quoted from a letter than Methvin wrote: “We will not be holding prayer over future staff meetings.”