The Cleveland County School Board is discussing the possibility of placing a display of the Ten Commandments at each school in its district. While some members were concerned of potential lawsuits, others pointed to a North Carolina law that would permit such a move.
According to a state law passed in the early 2000s, school districts could display documents with "historical significance" to the country, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, pledge of allegiance, and more. The law also states that documents that "exemplify the development of the rule of law" could also be showcased in schools, such as the Magna Carta, Mecklenburg Declaration, or the Ten Commandments. According to the Shelby Star, any display of the Ten Commandments would also require one of the First Amendment.
The resolution, introduced by board member Ron Humphries, would allow the biblical principles to be placed "in a prominent place" near the entrance to each school. Not every member was immediately on board with the resolution, including Dena Green who wants to hear from an attorney before voting.
"I would think that the ACLU would really come down on us," said Green. "We are probably going to get a lot of backlash on that, and it's going to cost us a lot of money."
Her concerns, she said, come from a 1980 Supreme Court ruling that called a Kentucky law requiring the Ten Commandments be posted in each classroom violated the First Amendment. Humphries disagreed, saying that as long as the display followed the state law as written, there should be no issue.
"We cannot be sued for following the law of the state of North Carolina," said Humphries.
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