A Peoria Unified School Board member who sued the district after it asked her to stop quoting the Bible at public meetings has lost her case.
A district spokesperson says swift resolution by a federal judge lets officials stay focused on providing students with high-quality education.
Heather Rooks, who is now the board president, and another board member quoted the Bible during time for making general comments at public meetings.
This drew pushback from groups that advocate for the First Amendment’s separation of church and state.
The district’s lawyer advised board members to not recite scripture.
Rooks sued the district, alleging her First Amendment rights on religion and free speech were being violated.
Now a federal judge has sided with the district, writing that Rooks was given legal advice warning of liability that could come from her actions.
Attorneys for Rooks did not comment.
-
A student event featuring Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk that was planned at a Phoenix high school next week has been moved off campus. -
Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, the widow of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is planning a visit in the Paradise Valley Unified School District next week. -
The Peoria Unified School District will cut all of its social workers at the end of this year, as funds from the state’s school safety grant program will run out. -
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter once said there are four kinds of people in the world: “those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers." But there might be a fifth: caregivers who help other caregivers. -
Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill on Monday which would have opted Arizona into a federal tax credit program to fund private school scholarships.
