Chesapeake board to again consider banning Satan Club and other groups from school facilities

The Chesapeake School Board will again consider banning all external groups from using school facilities for after-school activities.

During its meeting Monday evening, the board directed the administration to place proposed revisions to the facility-use policy on the agenda for the Aug. 14 meeting.

The policy has been a topic of discussion since the fall, when The Satanic Temple submitted an application to use the division’s B.M. Williams Primary school to host its After-School Satan Club. The club was approved at first with conditions, including that the sponsor pay for security fees the division deemed necessary. The ACLU of Virginia then got involved with the case, and the school division reversed course on the requirement. The club’s first meeting was held Feb. 16.

Later in February, the school board narrowly voted to revise its facility-use policy, restricting external groups’ use of school buildings to between the hours of 6 and 10 p.m. on weekdays, rather than directly after school. The revised policy differentiated between “exempt and non-exempt” groups, which school-sponsored and school-affiliated groups as well as government entities, were exempt from the new time window.

News of the club prompted a backlash, with droves of people speaking out against the club at School Board meetings and sending emails to board members. B.M. Williams Primary and club organizers also received bomb threats. Since then, a handful of residents have continued to speak at board meetings regarding the club, as well as the revisions to the policy. Last month, board member Amanda Dean requested that the board again consider revisions to the facility-use policy.

Monday’s discussion revolved around a second policy option that was presented to the board in February, which would ban all external groups from using school facilities.

The February vote was 5-4 in favor of continuing to allow outside groups to use school buildings, with the new restrictions. Board members Amanda Dean, Samuel L. Boone, Jr., John McCormick and Brittany Walker opposed the revised policy, preferring a second option that would have banned all external groups.

Dean said she favors banning all external groups from using school facilities because she believes there is a security risk.

“We should be focused on providing a safe and secure learning environment, because education should be our number one focus,” Dean said.

Dean said she is not taking a stance for or against any organizations, and noted that groups have numerous options outside of school facilities, such as at churches, community centers or libraries.

“If you have a mission that’s in the best interest of the community, then I encourage you to stay in Chesapeake,” she said.

Most board members reiterated their stances during Monday’s discussion. But Vice Chair Thomas Mercer, who originally voted for allowing outside groups, said Monday that he was no longer sure how he would vote if the revisions were brought back.

“It looks like I’m the fifth vote one way or another, and I don’t like that,” he said.

Mercer added that he has been “in deep prayer” about the issue.

But he expressed strong concern about the impact that banning all external clubs might have on the community, noting a religious parable and saying, “In tearing up the weeds, you’re going to destroy the wheat.”

The board’s discussion came after about an hour of public comment, in which approximately 20 people spoke about the policy. About half the speakers — including two who drove from Pennsylvania — spoke against the After-School Satan Club and said they would favor banning all external clubs from using school property for their meetings. The other half, mostly affiliated with the Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Good News Club, implored board members not to ban external groups, and spoke about the positive impacts non-school affiliated clubs can have on students.

The Child Evangelism Fellowship says its purpose is to “evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Members of The Satanic Temple have said the After-School Satan Club is a direct response to the Good News Club. The group only seeks to open clubs at schools that have existing Good News Clubs.

The Satanic Temple, which describes itself as “nontheistic,” does not believe in Satan as a real being, but rather as a literary symbol of standing up to tyrannical authority. Their clubs offer arts and crafts and science-related activities.

On Monday, McCormick, who originally favored banning all external groups from using school property, said there is “merit” in all the arguments that have been presented.

“Reasonable minds will disagree,” he said.

But McCormick said he hopes that after the vote in August the matter will be put to rest.

“So no matter what the outcome is, we gotta put it behind us, get behind whatever that majority is, get behind whatever that decision is and move on and focus on the students and focus on bettering our schools and our city,” he said.

Board chair Angela Swygert reiterated her support for allowing outside groups to use school facilities.

“My faith is very strong that you do not get rid of the dark by removing the light,” she said.

Swygert echoed McCormick’s sentiment that she hopes the matter will be resolved after the August vote.

“It’s time to put this to bed, make the final decision, and get back to the business of education of our children,” she said.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com