Dec. 10--Officials of Naperville Community Unit School District 203 are under fire from members of a Wisconsin-based group that is protesting what they say was a "team prayer" before at least one recent Naperville Central High School Redhawks football game.
A District 203 spokeswoman said administrators are looking into a complaint lodged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. It contends pregame prayers have been offered in violation of the First Amendment's guarantee of the separation of church and state.
"When a public school employee acting in an official capacity organizes and advocates for team prayer, he effectively endorses religion on the district's behalf," Freedom From Religion Foundation official Ryan D. Jayne wrote in the letter, which was sent Tuesday to District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges.
The foundation claims 23,000 members across the U.S. Its purpose "is to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state," according to Jayne's three-page letter.
Jayne maintained District 203 physical education instructor and football coach Michael Stine and other district employees "pray with student athletes at NCHS football games."
Michelle Fregoso, the district's director of communications, on Wednesday said, "We did receive a letter (from the foundation,) and we're looking into the matter."
Telephone messages left Wednesday for Bridges and Stine at their district offices were not returned.
Jayne said "a concerned local resident" had directed foundation members to a website featuring photographs of what appear to be football team members crouching and kneeling in prayer during their Nov. 14 game against Waubonsie Valley High School.
The photos were taken by Naperville-area photographer David Neesley.
Neesley said he is a Naperville Central graduate and has no professional affiliation with District 203 or the Freedom From Religion Foundation. He said he did not bring the photos to the foundation's attention.
"I follow the Redhawks, and I just like to document stuff," Neesley said Wednesday evening. The photos he took of kneeling players were "part of the game, and just one of those private moments," he said.
In the letter to Bridges, Jayne said it is "illegal for public school athletic coaches to lead their teams in prayer." He further argued "Stine's conduct is unconstitutional, because he endorses and promotes his religion when acting in his official capacity as a school district employee."
Jayne asked Bridges to "commence an immediate investigation ... and take immediate action to stop any and all prayers occurring within any district athletic programs." He asked to be kept apprised "of the steps you are taking to remedy this serious and flagrant violation of the First Amendment."
Jayne added after reviewing the online photographs, "it looked to me that the coaches were, indeed, participating in prayer with the students, and that is clearly prohibited by federal law."
wbird@tribpub.com
