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Frank Lay

279 bytes added, 16:11, 17 September 2009
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# Otherwise unconstitutionally endorsing or coercing religion.
On [[January 28]], at a luncheon for football boosters at the school's new fieldhouse, Principal Lay asked [[Robert Freeman]], the school's athletic director, to lead a prayer blessing the food, in apparent violation of the injunction. A week later Lay wrote to Superintendent Wyrosdick, "I accept full responsibility for this action. My actions were overt and not meant to circumvent any court order or constitutional mandate."<ref>[http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/religion/santarosa_pubrecordsofviolations.pdf Letter from Lay]</ref> He also said of the incident, "We did what we normally do in the South before we eat. I wasn't trying to hurt or offend anybody or cause any consternation."<ref>"ACLU seeks contempt order." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 14, 2009.</ref>
[[Michelle Winkler]], a clerical assistant employed by the school district at the [[Berryhill Administrative Complex]], committed a similar infraction at a [[February 20]] "employee of the year" banquet. Several weeks earlier, Winkler had previously sent an "off the record" email asking permission to lead a prayer at the event: "I would like to use the prayer I had prayed about and received from God and will suffer whatever consequences for."<ref>"ACLU seeks contempt order." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 14, 2009.</ref> Director of purchasing Jud Crane had responded that there would be no invocation or devotion, but that Winkler could offer a non-religious "thought of the day." On the evening of the banquet, after two students led the attendees in the pledge of allegiance, Winkler rose and said that she was not allowed to pray, and subsequently invited her husband to the microphone to do so instead.

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