Local school districts prepare “In God We Trust” signs to be displayed in all buildings

July 31, 2019 | 3:27 am

Updated July 30, 2019 | 10:31 pm

Tuesday, Meadow Lands Elementary School Principal Kevin Lowe hung an 8-by-10-inch framed sign that displays a flag and the words “In God We Trust” on a wall outside the school’s cafeteria. | Photo by Ashley Sorce

Since Kentucky legislators passed a law requiring the national motto, “In God We Trust,” to be displayed in all public schools, Daviess County and Owensboro public schools are working to fulfill the new requirement.

Tuesday, Meadow Lands Elementary School Principal Kevin Lowe hung an 8-by-10-inch framed sign that displays a flag and the words “In God We Trust” on a wall outside the school’s cafeteria.

DCPS Public Information Officer Lora Wimsatt said the district sent the framed signs to schools on July 22 with instructions to display in a prominent location. The signs, she said, may remain up permanently or may be replaced at a later date with student artwork or another item in compliance with KRS 158.195.

“The Daviess County Public Schools district remains in compliance with state law and school board policies,” she said in DCPS’s official statement on the signs.

Similarly, OPS sent the same example sign to each of its principals, but Central Office is leaving it up to each principal as to how they would like to comply with the statute.

“None of them have been put up at this time, but per KRS 158.195, something will be in place by the first day of school,” said OPS Public Information Officer Jared Revlett.

Republican Brandon Reed, who represents Green, Larue and Marion counties, sponsored the bill during the last legislative session, saying the motto is ever-present in society and is prominently displayed in the Kentucky legislature. Lawmakers approved House Bill 46 in February by a vote of 72-25.

The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the bill, saying the motto “has the appearance of endorsing religion.”

In a statement released by Owensboro Public Schools, Revlett said the district will do what is necessary to comply with the law. However, their priority is to maintain the culture of acceptance they have created in their district.

“Owensboro Public Schools has worked very hard to create an environment where all of our students, regardless of their religion, race, creed or otherwise feels welcome and at home when they walk through the school doors each and every day,” the statement read. “Our students are accepting of their peers and they learn from each other because of their differences rather than letting those things divide them.”

July 31, 2019 | 3:27 am

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