Arizona School Board Members Criticized for Quoting Scripture at Public Meetings

Laramie LGBT resident and University of Wyoming alumni Ray Kasckow holds pins about gender pronouns, on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie, Wyoming, on Aug. 13, 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Arizona’s Peoria Unified School District faces possible legal action over two Christian school board members quoting Bible verses at public meetings.

“It would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6,” Rebecca Hill said during a May board meeting, according to news outlet KJZZ.

The state’s most prominent teacher’s union and a secular education organization have accused Ms. Hill and fellow board member Heather Rooks of imposing their religious beliefs during board meetings by quoting scripture.

On May 25, an attorney representing the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to district school-board president David Sandoval requesting the school district take “appropriate action” to stop Hill and Rooks from using their government positions to “promote their religious beliefs.”

“A concerned Peoria Unified School District employee has reported that board member Heather Rooks has been using her position on the board to foist her personal religious beliefs upon district parents and community members,” Christopher Line wrote.

“Our complainant reports that Ms. Rooks quotes from The Bible at every board meeting and that other board members have started to do so also.

“For instance, at the most recent meeting on May 11, board member Rebecca Hill recited a disturbing Bible verse that threatens those who are not Christian, suggesting that non-Christians or those who lead people away from Christ should be drowned in the sea.”

Promotes Student Exodus

Mr. Line described the FFRF as a national nonprofit to protect the constitutional separation between church and state and to “educate the public on matters relating to non-theism.”

“While board members are free to promote their personal religious beliefs however they wish in their personal capacities outside of the school board, as government officials they cannot be allowed to commandeer the board to impose their personal religious beliefs on district students, parents, and employees,” Mr. Line wrote.

“We ask that the board take whatever action necessary to ensure that Ms. Rooks and all other members of the board respect the constitutional rights of the Peoria Unified School District community.”

Ms. Hill voiced disappointment after the board’s 3-2 decision on April 27 rejecting gender-specific restrooms for students, saying the district was “going down a very dark road morally,” according to Arizona Family.

Ms. Hill advised parents to remove their children from the school district using vouchers in private or home schools.

“Public education isn’t going in the right direction. God is not blessing this district,” Ms. Hill said in Arizona Family.

A petition by the Arizona Education Association demands Hill resign from the district board “effectively immediately.”

The petition claims Hill met with Rooks, the governing board clerk, in a restroom divulging “privileged information” violating the state’s open meeting law.

“You violated these policies by conspiring against the district and other governing board members. You and Clerk Rooks were overheard discussing efforts to organize actions against the district in an effort to push forward your personal agenda related to gender bathroom policy.”

The Epoch Times could not immediately reach Ms. Rooks for comment. Ms. Hill did not return a phone call or email requesting comment.