TAMPA — A Riverview elementary school principal has received a warning letter from his bosses over a faculty prayer session that took place last week on his campus as the staff prepared for the new school year.
The Aug. 4 letter from chief of staff Alberto Vazquez went out to principal Anthony Montoto, describing a video in which "you, the Assistant Principal and members of the Frost Elementary School staff were praying on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 at the start of the day during pre-planning week."
Under state and federal law, Vazquez wrote, "all schools must assure that our actions are lawful and respectful of others and remain inclusive and neutral among religions and between religion and non-religion."
Furthermore, Vazquez wrote, "the principal of a public school should never lead or direct an activity that advocates for a particular doctrine of faith/non faith while performing his/her official duties."
Details about the prayer circle were not available and Montoto, when contacted, declined to comment.
The video, which showed dozens of adults holding hands with the school building visible in the background, appeared on Facebook, but was soon taken down.
On Wednesday, at a news conference, the Tampa Bay Times asked superintendent Jeff Eakins if such an event was ever appropriate on school grounds.
"I think everyone must have their own willingness to do something like that," Eakins said. "What an individual chooses to do, an individual chooses to do."
Clearly, Eakins said, participants felt the prayer session would contribute to the school's overall success.
But, he stressed, "there can never be any kind of requirement, there can never be any pressure, stipulation by which anybody feels that is something they must do."
The incident follows a year of controversies involving religion for the district, beginning with Eakins allowing Idlewild Baptist Church to take part in staff training. Later in the year there were complaints from civil liberties organizations about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a local group called Huddle Touch and video endorsements that some principals gave for the evangelical organizations.
Training is now under way for school administrators and employees to avoid crossing legal and ethical lines when dealing with faith-based organizations.
Contact Marlene Sokol at (813) 226-3356 or msokol@tampabay.com. Follow @marlenesokol
