An atheist group has filed a federal lawsuit against the Hall County School System, the system’s superintendent and the principal of Chestatee High School over alleged coach- and teacher-led prayer at the school near Gainesville.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Gainesville Monday by the American Humanist Association against the school board, Superintendent Will Schofield and Chestatee Principal Suzanne Jarrard, seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting school district faculty, coaches and other school officials from leading or participating in prayers with students at school-sponsored activities – activities the suit contends are unconstitutional.
The suit also asks for “nominal damages” and attorney fees.
Accessnorthga.com reported that the association, in an Aug. 12 letter to the school system, wrote, "to avoid legal action, we kindly ask that you notify me in writing within two weeks of receipt of this letter setting forth the steps you will take to rectify this constitutional infringement."
The system responded to the association with a letter on Aug. 26 that outlined steps that would be taken to ensure that the system was within the letter of the law, but the lawsuit said those steps weren’t enough.
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