BREMERTON -- An influential school official for the state weighed in on the issue of a coach leading prayer following a high school sports game, criticizing the teacher's "exclusionary or even distressing" practice.
Last Friday, coach Joe Kennedy of Bremerton High School led a prayer at the 50-yard line following his team's homecoming loss to the Centralia Tigers.
The assistant coach had previously been told he wasn't allowed to pray because of concerns over the constitutional separation of church and state. After originally saying he would follow the rules, he later decided to lead the prayer.
It is not known if Kennedy plans on continuing his prayer for the rest of the season.
Though Kennedy is still employed by the Bremerton School District, the school board is reviewing the events of Friday night in hopes of coming up with a workable agreement, the district said.
On Friday, State Superintendent Randy Dorn released a statement regarding the prayer, saying "it's unfortunate when the actions of one employee affect an entire district." Dorn also commended the district on the "tough decisions" it has to make concerning the prayer.
Dorn released the statement in support of the Bremerton School District, OSPI Communications Specialist Kristen Jaudon said, and any other district that may encounter a similar scenario.
Dorn's full statement:
Dorn does not have jurisdiction over human resource decisions at the district level, OSPI Communications Specialist Kristen Jaudon said.
The public had a chance to comment on Kennedy's post-game prayers earlier this month during a school board meeting, the Bremerton Patriot reports. According to the Patriot, many former and current students spoke both for and against the idea of the prayer.
"I'd like to encourage the district to continue the efforts to uphold the law and not allow Coach Kennedy to lead, conduct or participate in prayer after high school football games," Teresa Fox, a graduate of Bremerton High School, reportedly said.