Lake school board addresses prayer concerns after legal complaint

The Lake Local school district was in the news recently, on television reports and in city newspapers, because of complaints from some residents about coaches leading students in prayer. That was the main subject at the Sept. 15 board meeting. The district had received a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which it sent to its legal counsel.

At the board meeting, Superintendent Brett Yeagley said the district had reminded coaches of the right to pray, but they cannot organize or lead prayer in their official capacity. He said a statement had been put out to the community to that effect on Sept. 11. Board President Adam Doane and board member Deborah Cain thanked him.

Several people addressed the board on the subject. Doane said a number of people had been in touch with him and other board members by telephone and email.

In other business, Yeagley reported that Lake Local is now ranked No. 1 in Stark County, although the average per-pupil expenditure is $10,810, within $43 of the highest per-pupil expenditure in Ohio.

The board accepted a donation of $200 from the Hartville Lions Club for the benefit of Lake Cares.

The fall homecoming parade will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Lake Elementary School. The fall homecoming dance will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Lake Middle/High School. The seventh-grade class trip to Washington, D.C., will be Oct. 14-16. The eighth-grade and high school orchestra concert will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Performing Arts Hall. The high school choir concert will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Performing Arts Hall.

Because of a meeting in Columbus, the board will hold its November meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The next regular meeting of the Lake Local Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at Lake Elementary School. All meetings are open to the public, and the agenda for every regular meeting includes time for public comment. After adoption of the minutes of each meeting, the audio recording is available, upon request, from the Lake Local Administration Office at 330-877-9383.