A local civil liberties group is raising?concerns about the West Des Moines school district?s decision to relocate 600 students to a local church this fall while repairs are done to Hillside Elementary.
Students will attend classes at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925?Jordan Creek?Parkway,?for the first eight to 10 weeks of the school year while work to replace windows at Hillside, 713 Eighth Street,?is completed. The new school year begins on Aug. 21.
Ben Stone, executive director of the ACLU of Iowa, said officials with the school and the church need to take precautions to ensure students are not receiving religious instruction or pressure along with their regular education.
?I think it?s important there be considerations for religious liberties of students and that no students be placed in a position where they?re going to be confronted with religious messages that really are not appropriate for the school setting,? Stone said.
School district spokeswoman Elaine Watkins-Miller said the need for those separations has been ?clearly communicated? to those they?re working with at the church.
?We have specifically stated to them the requirement for separation of church and state, and they have said they will make accommodations where they can,? she said.
That likely?includes removing non-permanent religious?materials in hallways and classrooms where?school children will be present, she said.
Students will be using a portion of the church that has?classrooms, a gym, cafeteria area and?art and music rooms, but not the sanctuary, Watkins-Miller said.
School district officials?began looking for a temporary place to hold classes a few weeks ago after they?determined?repairs at?Hillside wouldn?t be completed before the?school year begins.
The windows being?replaced have reportedly?leaked since the school was first constructed?about eight years ago and?mold was found?in?some places when they were removed.
Lutheran Church of Hope is about five and?half miles from Hillside, and the district plans to provide free bus transportation?for students?between the church to?designated neighborhood?stops?within the school?s boundaries.
The?district looked at several?buildings, including the new?and old Walnut Creek?campuses and a former?Stein Mart store, but settled on the church because it?can accommodate all of the students and staff without needing to be remodeled, Watkins-Miller said.
The school?s before and after school?care programs will be held at?Phenix Elementary Education Center, 415 Seventh St.,?and?free transportation will be provided to that as well.
The district currently is?negotiating a 28E agreement with the?church?outlining the conditions of use. The school board will vote on that agreement at its meeting next Monday.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/west-des-moines/~3/HgYIhQ088SA/
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